KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sept 30, CMC – Popular clergyman, Reverend Merrick ‘Al’ Miller, who earlier this month, was slapped with a one million dollar (One Jamaica dollar =US$0.008 cents) fine less than two months after he was found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice, is appealing the conviction.
His attorney, Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, said that Miller has reviewed his immediate and initial reaction not to appeal his conviction by the trial judge and has now given instructions for the filing of an appeal against his conviction.
“This is based on legal advice, the urgings of many, and his own prayerful reflections on all that transpired leading up to, at and since his trial,” the release said.
Parish Judge Simone Wolf Reece sitting in the Kingston & St Andrew Parish Court had on July 22 found Miller guilty after he was arrested and charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice in July 2010 when then fugitive Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke was found in his company travelling along the Mandela Highway in St. Catherine.
Coke, who was wanted by United States law enforcement authorities on drugs and gun charges, later waived his right to an extradition hearing and was taken to the United States where he was convicted and is now serving a 23-year jail term.
The clergyman, who could serve 12 months in prison if he fails to pay the fine, had throughout his trial maintained his innocence, insisting that he was merely escorting Coke to the United States Embassy in St Andrew so he could surrender to authorities there, based on an agreement with then Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington.
In the statement, the attorney said that Miller believes it is important for the Court of Appeal to consider and rule on the important legal issues arising from his case; including Jamaica’s relationship with other countries, particularly in the context of extradition matters and as well the relationship between the citizen and the police.
“He is now content to await the deliberation and ruling of the Court of Appeal,” the release said.
CMC/id/ir/2016