Bar Association will not discipline lawyer convicted of cannabis posse

[grace]

Lawyer Charles Richardson will not face disciplinary action from his professional body over his recent conviction for cannabis possession.

 

Richardson, 39, first admitted the offence when he appeared at Magistrates' Court on March 31.

 

At that point he escaped a conviction, after his lawyer said one could wreck his career, and Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo meted out a three year conditional discharge.

 

However, the court changed his punishment in a follow-up hearing on July 9 after he was deemed to be in breach of the conditions of the order.

 

It is not known how Richardson failed to comply, but The Royal Gazette understands he wanted it revoked because of the limitations it placed on his travel, which affected his ability to visit his young sons in the UK.

 

Asked if the conviction would cause any disciplinary action to be taken against him, President of the Bar Council Kiernan Bell responded: "The conviction has not caused the Bar Council to file a misconduct complaint against Mr Richardson under the Barristers' Code of Professional Conduct.

 

"A barrister must report to the Bar Council if he is convicted of a criminal offence which involves dishonesty or which may bring the profession into disrepute. The Bar Council is aware of Mr Richardson's conviction and while the Bar Council does not condone such conduct, it is the Bar Council's view that this type of offence is not a matter for the Bar's disciplinary body and the matter has been addressed by the court."

 

A total of 8.2 grams of cannabis and 0.71 grams of cannabis resin was found at Richardson's home in Club Road, Hamilton Parish, during a Police raid on the evening of August 11 last year. He pleaded guilty to two counts of drug possession on March 31, admitting he knew the cannabis was in his house, but saying it belonged to a houseguest.

 

Senior Magistrate Khamisi replaced the original conditional discharge with a $1,000 fine after he was found to be in breach of the order.

 

Richardson famously studied for his law degree in prison after being convicted of a nightclub shooting in 1995. He already had a conviction dating from 1993 for cannabis possession with intent to supply.

 

He was called to the Bar in 2005 after his release from jail, and has since made a name for himself as one of the Island's top defence lawyers. He is set to act in a number of high profile trials in the coming months.

 

He said yesterday: "I am glad to finally put this behind me and get on with the business of representing my clients to the best of my ability."

 

Author: Elizabeth Roberts

Date: 9 August 2010

Source: Royal Gazette

http://www.royalgazette.com/rg/Article/art...mp;sectionId=60