OJ Elrington is on Bail for Rape

Meanwhile, in the lower court, Elrington was accompanied by his father, Hubert Elrington, and fellow attorneys Norman Rodriguez and Michelle Trapp.  The Senior Magistrate explained to Elrington that due to the nature of the offense, she will not take a plea.  When the prosecutor was asked if he had any objection to bail being granted to the accused, he raised no objection.  With that, bail was offered in the sum of eight thousand dollars, plus one surety of the same amount.  The conditions of his bail include reporting to the Belama Police Station every Tuesday, as well as surrendering his travel documents to the Clerk of Court.  We spoke with Hubert Elrington and Norman Rodriguez following the arraignment.

 

Hubert Elrington, Attorney-at-law

“We believe that it‘s going to be very difficult for any of them to defeat us in a criminal trial.  That‘s all.”

 

Court Reporter

“Can I ask a question? We know that the norm here at court is that persons who are accused and charged with rape, normally there is an objection to bail.  Today, there was no objection in court today.  As it relates to the law, tell us how that was.”

 

Hubert Elrington

“I wasn’t in court when that was gone through so you would have to ask somebody who was there.”

 

Norman Rodriguez, Attorney-at-law

“As it relates to the bail, there was no objection and if there was no objection then we really have nothing more to day.”

 

Court Reporter

“Okay, but as it relates to the law, does the offense of rape, does it appear as one of those offenses that the court can or cannot grant bail?”

 

Norman Rodriguez

“It is not listed in Section 16 of the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act.  As a result of that, the magistrate can grant bail and she did.”

 

Court Reporter

“Tell us a little bit about the conditions to his bail.

 

Norman Rodriguez

“It‘s the usual, he has to sign in once a week.  He must stay or not come within a certain distance of the virtual complainant or any of the prosecution‘s witnesses.  He is to surrender his passport and if he needs to leave the country, he has to get permission from the court.  It‘s normal.”