From hijack to alleged pastoral misconduct - Two of western Jamaica's biggest court cases

 Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

OF THE many cases that came before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court throughout 2010, none generated as much interest as that of Earl Fray, father of convicted attempted hijacker Stephen Fray.

On April 19, 2009, the younger Fray took 160 passengers and the crew of CanJet Airline Flight 918 hostage at Sangster International Airport. He was armed with a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver, which was later found to belong to his father.

On September 24, 2009, Stephen was found guilty on eight of 10 gun-related charges brought against him as a result of the hijacking, including shooting with intent, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, robbery with aggravation, assault at common law, and breaches of the Civil Aviation Act.

He was found guilty and sentenced to 83 years in prison. He is currently serving a maximum of 20 years, as the sentences are to run concurrently.

Following his son's conviction, on May 4, 2009, the senior Fray was interviewed by police and formally cautioned on the charge of negligence causing loss or theft of a firearm. Four days later, he was summoned for prosecution by the court.

His trial lasted between June and November, presided over by Resident Magistrate Vivienne Harris. Fray Sr was represented by lawyer Martyn Thomas.

Criminally negligent

During the trial, the prosecution declared that the 51-year-old was criminally negligent in how he stored his firearm, as it was kept in a filing cabinet where his son would have been able to access it, and the keys to the cabinet were within easy reach.

On August 30, Fray Sr told the court that on the day of the hijacking, he had broken down in tears when he realised his son was the criminal being portrayed on the news.

He was eventually found guilty of the charges against him on September 30, 2010. In handing down her ruling, RM Harris pointed out that her review of the case indicated that the filing cabinet had not been significantly tampered with and there had been no forced entry into the room where the cabinet was kept.

On November 3, Fray was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years. His firearm licence was permanently suspended.

Meanwhile, the court case involving popular American evangelist Reverend Dr Paul Lewis was highly discussed in the court of public opinion, even as he faced the Westmoreland courts this year.

Lewis, founder and president of the New York-based Messengers for Christ Ministries World Healing Centre, is answering charges of two counts of carnal abuse following his arrest in June 2009 for allegedly engaging in sexual relations with two teenage girls.

He was offered $300,000 bail on those charges, and his travel documents were seized in the Savanna-la-Mar Resident Magi-strate's Court.

He later received an additional charge of perverting the course of justice on October 26, 2010, for allegedly instructing a woman to pay the two complainants to change their statements. For that charge, he was offered $300,000 bail.

The perversion of justice case has been put off until February 2, 2011, at which time Lewis is to return to the Savanna-la-Mar RM Court to receive a trial date in the matter. His trial in the carnal abuse matter is expected to begin on that day.

Lewis is represented by lawyers Michael Erskine and Keith Bishop.