Principal freed of child porn charge because of constitutional breach

Bradley Robinson, the principal of John Mills All Age School in St Andrew, who was facing a pornography charge for the last nine years was today freed in the Home Circuit Court because of a breach of his constitutional right.

The prosecution offered no evidence against Robinson, 50, following submissions made by attorney-at-law Hugh Wildman who began representing Robinson a year ago.

Wildman argued last week that Robinson should be freed because the delay in trying the case was a breach of his constitutional right to trial within a reasonable time.

The prosecution was given one week to respond to the submissions.

When the matter came before the court today, the prosecution offered no evidence against him.

Justice Sonia Bertram Linton then told Robinson he was discharged.

Wildman then implored the judge to return a formal verdict of not guilty and the judge granted the order.

Wildman had previously argued that the case should be thrown out because it was dragging on for nine years which was a very long time. 

He disclosed that there was a statement on the file that the complainant, who was 16 at the time of the alleged offence, was no longer interested in the case.

He also pointed out that from the records the accused never missed a court date and the complainant never attended court.

Robinson, who is on suspension from his job because of the charge against him. had denied the allegations.

- Barbara Gayle

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