Watson appeals, lawyers silent on grounds
Canover Watson exits the courthouse after being found guilty of corruption
(CNS): The former chair of the HSA board, Canover Watson, has appealed against his convictions earlier this month of five corruption related charges in connection with a government hospital contract. His local defence attorney, Ben Tonner, told CNS that an appeal had been filed on behalf of his client but no grounds have been specified. Watson was charged with six offences and was found guilty by a jury on two counts of conspiracy to defraud, one count of conflict of interest, one count of fraud on government and one count of breach of trust but he was acquitted of money laundering.
The trial lasted some nine weeks and the decision was made by a jury, which means that any appeal will need to focus on either the proceedings during the case that could have undermined the principle of a fair trial or that the judge misdirected the jury in some way when he summed up the case before sending them to deliberate.
The appeal court is scheduled to sit three times during the course of this year, starting on 4 April until the 22 April. The summer session will be from 15 August until 3 September and the last session just two months later, on 31 October until 18 November.
$25,000 per night in a strip club. $5,000 perv night hotel rooms.
and Haitian kids are starving.
“Jeff made me do it” is grounds for appeal?
He’s a Smug looking individual, do your time sleazebag, you’re lucky you only got 7 years!
This man’s stupid face cries out to be punched. Hopefully the Court of Appeal does everyone a favour and adds another 5 years to his sentence.
Can they also bankrupt him..or only citizens questioning their constitution?
Do your time humpty hump!
Con is Over
There is nothing I can find that is appealing about Canover.
The man has a right to appeal let justice take its course. You all are not the appeal judges so sit back and make everything unfold . The more any say the more stuff will be used for him to be set free
Rub da time n be quiet
The Cayman Islands Court of Appeal Law allows the Court of Appeal to increase or decrease sentences depending on the nature of the case and whether the appeal has merits or was just a waste of the court’s time. I wonder if Ben Tonner so advised his client Mr. Watson. Be careful Mr. Watson because 7 yrs could easily become 10 yrs given the “mountain of evidence”. And for those who believe that others will not be brought to justice just be patient. It’s no doubt far from over.
Here he goes again wasting CIGs money. Sorry, last time he stole it.
He was given it, no questions asked.
He has a right to appeal when so much political interference was involved in this case and so many not bought to justice
This is the sort of person that considers the Sacred Vessel Defence a genius argument.
Of course he was going to do this. Still trying to weasel out. Appeals are so common and are so often unsuccesful that the law should allow the appeals court to increase the sentence of those that fail on their appeals.