DOWN MEMORY LANE
The Guy Pool trial
Judgement in Reef Bomb Trial
Offence of wilfully and unlawfully causing an explosion likely to cause serious injury to property, contrary to Section 15 of the Explosives Ordinance 1965. Difference between a retracted and a repudiated confession.
In the early hours of 14th February 1972 the south block of the Reef Hotel at Anse Aux Pins was severely damaged by an explosion which took place on the balcony outside Room 139. Immediate investigations failed to disclose the identity of the person, responsible. On 28th July 1972 one Stanley Hermitte gave a statement to the Police which incriminated the appellant. The appellant on 1st August 1972 made a lengthy statement to the police confessing to the placing of the bomb, and on 10th August 1972 he made an oral confession to the Superintendant of Prisons, and the same day gave the Superintendant a written statement in which he expressed the intention of pleading guilty to the charge of causing explosion to damage property of the Reef Hotel.
The case against him rested on the evidence of Hermitte and his own statement. The conviction and sentence of 12 years’ imprisonment were upheld.