🔍 Cayman Islands court orders investigation into lawyer's conduct

The Cayman Islands Court of Appeal has instructed the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to investigate a criminal defence attorney, Keith Myers, who stands accused of sexually harassing a client and failing to adequately represent her. The judges labelled the case as "troubling", and found that messages exchanged between Myers and his client, Aisha Jamilah English, contradicted an affidavit he had sworn denying the allegations. Myers had represented English during her 2022 trial for wounding, a case in which she was initially convicted but later acquitted on appeal. 🏛️

The appeal court's full written ruling, delivered last week, stated that the case must also be reviewed by the police and the Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association (CILPA). The crown did not contest the appeal, largely due to the sexually explicit messages between English and Myers presented as evidence. English also claimed that Myers failed to properly prepare her case or call a key witness, leading to her initial conviction. The court agreed with Simon Csoka KC, who represented English in the appeal, asserting that Myers' actions had "tainted" the entire case. The court deemed Myers' conduct "indefensible" and underscored the need for a thorough investigation. 🚨