The Grenada 17 Prisoners
in Richmond Hill Prison
- Austin, Hudson ‘H.A.’ also ‘The General’
- Bartholomew, Dave ‘Tan’
- Bernard, Callistus ‘Abdullah’
- Coard, Bernard
- Coard, Phyllis*
- Cornwall, Leon ‘Bogo’
- James, Liam ‘Owusu’
- Joseph, Vincent - released 2 December 2006
- Layne, Ewart ‘Headache’
- McBarnette, Colville ‘Kamau’
- Mitchell, Andy - released 2 December 2006
- Prime, Cecil ‘Dumpy’ - released 27 June 2007
- Redhead, Lester ‘Goat’ - released 27 June 2007
- Richardson, Cosmos - released 2 December 2006
- Strachan, Selwyn ‘Sello’
- Stroude, Christopher ‘Chris’ - released 27 June 2007
- Ventour, John ‘Chalkie’
Following the tragedies of October 1983, the 12 men and one woman listed above were convicted and sentenced on 4 December 1986: 14 were given the verdict of murder and sentenced to death by hanging; 2 were found guilty of man slaughter and sentenced to 45 years; 1 was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 30 years. Raeburn Nelson was found not guilty and freed.
The death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment on 14 August 1991 to all 14 of the condemned. The Prerogative of Mercy decision was based on the Grenada Constitution, sections 72, 73 and 74 from Chapter IV.
Amnesty International 2003
On 23 October 2003, Amnesty International issued a press release -
. . . calling on the Grenadian Government to redress the injustice of the unfair trial inflicted on 17 political prisoners known as the Grenada 17, as the 20th anniversary of their detention approaches.
The organization is urging the Grenadian authorities to establish an independent judicial review of the convictions of the Grenada 17, detained in the context of the invasion of the island by US forces, in the light of the irregularities documented.
Additionally, from Amnesty International:
If the Grenadian authorities prove unwilling to put into place an independent judicial review of their convictions, the only alternative action that would go in accordance with international human rights standards would be the release of the Grenada 17.
Report - The Grenada 17: the last of the cold war prisoners?
High Court Ruling 2004
Matters continue to be in a state of flux concerning the future of those called "The Grenada 17."
On Tuesday, 16 March 2004, under the ruling of a motion filed 2002, Justice Kenneth Benjamin, presiding over the Grenadian High Court, ruled that the life sentences of the Grenada 17 were unconstitutional. The Court also ruled on that same day that the initial mandatory death sentences passed in 1986 on 13 of the accused prisoners were illegal. You will recall the death sentences were commuted to life in prison in 1991.
Trinidadian Attorney Keith Scotland and Grenadian Attorney Cajeton Hood have been retained by most of the Grenada 17. Ewart Layne, according to reports, is acting his own behalf utilizing the expertise of his Masters of Law degree from the University of London.
By the end of the day, so to speak, the State of Grenada's Attorney General Raymond Anthony could file to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals and apply for a stay of execution of the Judge's decision pending the hearing of the appeal. From a decision of the Court of Appeal, an appeal to the Privy Council is possible. It is quite possible at the upcoming sentencing for them to receive immediate release. Other legal paths might occur. [This paragraph uploaded 17 March 2004].
There is information that the Grenada government appealed the High Court's Orders for re-sentencing on 26 April 2004. [This paragraph uploaded 1 May 2004].
The OECS High Court in its Court of Appeal, Monday through Thursday, 28 June - 1 July 2004, will be the time period the Grenada government will attempt to overturn the Grenadian High Court ruling of 16 March 2004 [see above]. Scotland and Hood will continue to represent the convicted men. Rohan Phillip will represent Karl Hudson-Phillips QC [who was called to serve on an international court in relation to Rwanda] for the Grenada government. [This paragraph uploaded 8 May 2004].
Hurricane Ivan - 7 September 2004
The after-effects of Hurricane Ivan on Richmond Hill Prison left extensive damage to the 17th C. structure. The overall report is that prisoners were permitted to go home to check on families and report back. Most all of the Grenada 17 chose to remain at the prison, according to one source. According to the US State Department in a Country Report on Human Rights Practices - 2004 for Grenada:
The main prison was damaged during Hurricane Ivan, and the authorities permitted some prisoners, including 15 of the 'Grenada 17,' to leave. The 15 prisoners returned at the end of each day, and the prison was repaired by year's end.
If you work out the numbers, the above statement implies the absence of Phyllis Coard, making the count of 16 prisoners. If, as was reported, Bernard Coard did not leave the prison, the count is reduced to the 15 in the US Department of State report.
Further High Court Ruling 2005
The Grenada 17 case [actually 13 for this hearing] went to an appeals hearing in St. Lucia, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), as Grenada's court building was damaged by Hurricane Ivan.
The appeal was rejected by the three-member ECSC on 14 February 2005, producing a 43-page written judgment. This verdict overturned a Grenada High Court judge decision that had the potential for their release.
An appeal on top of the appeal of 14 February 2005 above, was made to take the case to the British Privy Council, the highest court of appeal within the Commonwealth legal system. The appeal was granted on Wednesday, 29 June 2005 by the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.
On Thursday, 6 July 2006, in the matter of a different legal initiative, also an appeal, to the Privy Council, the conclusion is that Vincent Joseph, Andy Mitchell and Cosmos Richardson, the three soldiers convicted of manslaughter with 30-year sentences, are to complete the remainder of their sentences. The details are thick and blurred, including the exact release dates.
At 9:23 a.m. on Saturday, 2 December 2006, Vincent Joseph, Andy Mitchell and Cosmos Richardson walked through the outermost gate of Richmond Hill Prison.
NEWS FLASH of Thursday 30 November 2006
STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY ON THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS
On Saturday December 2nd 2006, three inmates convicted in the Maurice Bishop trial will be released. The three men,
- Joseph, Vincent
- Mitchell, Andy
- Richardson, Cosmos
were convicted on eleven counts of manslaughter and sentenced to thirty years in prison. These men have now served their time and will be release some time in the morning on Saturday. Under the law governing sentencing regulations, inmates' sentences are reduced by one third if they have been deemed as being industrious and well behaved. These inmates have qualified for the reduction in their sentences and will be released after serving twenty years of their time.
The Ministry of National Security would like to make it clear that the planned release of these men is not based on any court action but is instead as a direct result of the sentences being completed.
It is Government's hope that Mr. Joseph, Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Richardson will rejoin society as productive members of the community and will live a peaceful life having learned from their experience.
Grenada 17 Website***
You can check for the latest information by plugging in "Grenada 17" on the Google search engine, and then clicking on NEWS, or sign up for the automatic news feature for notification. Don't forget to check in with Grenadian media sources often not covered by Google at this time.
NEWS FLASH of Wednesday 7 February 2007
RESENTENCING PRIVY COUNCIL WRITTEN JUDGMENT - the link is the written judgment - check it out -
Privy Council Ruling
NEWS FLASH of Wednesday 27 June 2007
RESENTENCING PER PRIVY COUNCIL JUDGMENT
Three additional prisoners convicted in the Maurice Bishop trial were released at 4:10 p.m.
The release from Richmond Hill Prison was the decision of Justice Francis Belle, member of the Supreme Court of the Eastern Caribbean Court:
- Prime, Cecil ‘Dumpy’
- Redhead, Lester ‘Goat’
- Stroude, Christopher ‘Chris’
The morning session commenced on the 8th day of procedures, at 10 a.m., 27 June 2007. The remaining prisoners convicted in the Maurice Bishop trial, according to Judge Belle's ruling, are to be released within a five year period, i.e. officially resentenced for up to 40 years in prison. Most of the remaining have already served 35 years. The written judgment, expected to be issued by the East Caribbean Supreme Court in a couple of weeks, the middle of July 2007, will confirm information about the emotional decisions. Justice Belle's written decision on this website.
NEWS FLASH of 18 September 2007
THE GOVERNMENT OF GRENADA APPEALS RESENTENCING CASE; THEN INDICATORS REVEAL THE APPEAL IS WITHDRAWN
The Government of Grenada filed an appeal on 10 July 2007 to the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States [OECS] Court of Appeals to revoke the decision of Judge Belle in the Resentencing Case of June 2007 because he had interaction with the People's Revolutionary Government and should recuse [remove] his jurisdiction in the case. The case was to be raised at the September 17 sitting of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal in St. George's. "In the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Grenada Final Cause List 17th-21st September 2007" no appeal is registered.
A CALL FOR FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION BY BISHOP'S DAUGHTER NADIA
The convictions against 17 prisoners for killing former Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, four Cabinet members and six supporters, are discussed above.
By special pre-arrangement, Nadia Bishop, the 35-year-old daughter of Maurice Bishop, who was executed during the 19 October 1983 tragedies, and Marcelle Belmar, sister of Gemma Belmar, who died during the 19 October 1983 tragedies, met at Richmond Hill Prison with 9 of those convicted prisoners.
Those who met with Nadia Bishop and Marcelle Belmar, included Dave Bartholomew, Callistus Bernard, Bernard Coard, Leon Cornwall, Liam James, Ewart Layne, Kamau McBarnette, Selwyn Strachan and John Ventour. Hudson Austin was absent. On other occasions, Ms. Bishop said she also spoke with Hudson Austin, who remains at Richmond Hill Prison, and Lester Redhead, recently released from there.
Ms. Bishop reports the 3-hour meeting, the evening of December 31, was one of forgiveness all around, and an invitation for national reconciliation for the new year.
*Phyllis Coard was on Grenada government decision extended prison leave for medical reasons. She was diagnosed February 2000 with a cancerous tumor of the colon. Mrs. Coard's 6-week release and an extension ended March 2002. At that time, she was to appeal for another extension to the Mercy Committee. Most likely extensions have been granted, though not announced. Phyllis Coard has not returned to Richmond Hill Prisons, but recently Grenada's Attorney General, Elvin Nimrod, announced Mrs. Coard remain monitored under her sentence. Currently, Phyllis Coard is known to be living in Jamaica, her home country.
**Richmond Hill Prison has a new automated gate with sentry house and visitor waiting area; nevertheless, the photo above captures the feel of the old gate and the antiquity of the prison facilities.
***Linkage success to the Grenada 17 site is sometimes erratic; best advice is to try again later.
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