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High Court judge, Justice Brian Cottle in a January 2023 photo.
High Court judge, Justice Brian Cottle in a January 2023 photo.
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The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) has appointed retired Vincentian jurist Justice Brian Cottle to act as a High Court judge.

Justice Cottle retired as a High Court judge on May 9 — his 62nd birthday — after 17 years on the bench.

His retirement came on a day that the prosecution and defence presented closing arguments to the jury in a trial over which Justice Cottle was presiding.

The judge then told the jury that it had not been his practice to have the jury hear the closing arguments and his summation on the same day.

He said he would present his summation of the case and allow the jury to consider their verdict the following day, if the ECSC allowed him to function as high court judge for an additional day.

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Justice Cottle said that if he did not receive this authorisation from the court, the trial would have to be discontinued and a new trial conducted.

The judge presided over the trial the following day but did not comment to the jury about his retirement.

On May 16, the ECSC announced that Cottle had been appointed to act as a High Court judge, ECSC from June 1 to July 31, 2024.

He will be assigned to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

3 replies on “Retired jurist Brian Cottle appointed to act as High Court judge”

  1. Take warning says:

    Kangaroooo court ? In my opinion injustice is reserved for the innocent and criminals walk free,, ask CJ, CJ and u geee.

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