The country now has a acting Director of Public prosecutions, Claudette Thompson.
Ms. Thompson is stepping into the top job, as Paula Llewellyn indicated her inability to carry out the functions of the office at this time.
So who is Claudette Thompson?
Claudette Thompson has nearly two decades of experience as a prosecutor.
The 49-year old’s substantive post at the Office of the DPP is Senior Deputy Director of Prosecutions. She has served in that post since 2018. Miss Thompson has previously acted as DPP between August 2 and September 6 in 2019.
She was Clerk of the Court in St. Ann in 2004 before becoming Assistant Crown Counsel at the ODPP in 2007.
Miss Thompson has featured prominently in several high-profile cases including the anti-gang case that led to the conviction of the boss of the One Don faction of the Klansman gang, Andre ‘Blackman’ Bryan.
She was also pivotal to the recent prosecution and conviction of the Euchence Wilson gangsters.
Miss Thompson also featured prominently in the conviction of Klansman leader, Tesha Miller, in connection with the murder of the former Chairman of the JUTC, Douglas Chambers.
Miller was given a set sentence of 38 years in prison for being an accessory to murder, while Bryan was slapped with 39 and a half years for being part of a criminal organisation and murder.
The new acting-DPP also featured in the recent murder conviction of Dontae Brooks, the incarcerated son of dancehall deejay Movado.
She has a range of experience in the conduct of complex prosecutions in the Parish Court, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
Her duties at the ODPP over the years included the conduct of rulings from various state entities and being the head of the Roster Committee, head of the Gun Court Unit, and being in charge of the Home Circuit Administration Unit.
Miss Thompson is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in international relations.
She attended the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom, where she obtained a Bachelor of Laws, and the Norman Manley Law School, where she obtained her Certificate of Legal Education.
She is a member of the Criminal Case Management Steering Committee and the Human Resource Management Committee in the Ministry of Justice.
Miss Thompson has lectured on topics including cross-examination and re-examination 101, courtroom demeanour and testimony, the Plea Negotiations Act, and bail applications.
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