( Real News Antigua) The trial involving Donette Simon and Shenel Williams, known as
members of the Freedom Fighters of Antigua and Barbuda ended
yesterday, November 21, in the Magistrates Court.
The two defendants had been charged jointly for organizing a
prohibited public meeting, and charged individually with
participating in a prohibited public meeting.
Additionally, Williams had been charged with inciting persons to
cause damage to property and inciting persons to cause injury to
others.
But at the end of the prosecution’s case, both incitement charges
were thrown out. The Court agreed with defense counsel Leon
Chaku Symister that there was no case to answer regarding those
allegations against Williams.
As to the other charges against the defendants, the prosecutor and
defense counsel are to make written submissions as to their guilt or
innocence.
The case arose out of what has become known as “Teargas Sunday,”
when police officers discharged teargas and rubber bullets and beat
persons protesting the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine on August 8,
2021.
