Vinson Ariste (Appellant) v The King (Respondent) (Bahamas)

Case summary

Case ID

JCPC/2019/0010

Jurisdiction

Bahamas

Parties

Appellant(s)

Vinson Ariste

Respondent(s)

The King

Issue

Mr Ariste appeals against his conviction for armed robbery on the basis that it was unsafe because: i. He was denied access to legal representation during his detention, police questioning and at trial; ii. His confession was obtained by oppression and so should not be admitted as evidence; and iii. The Judge's directions to the jury in relation to the confession and evidence going to Mr Ariste's character were inadequate.

Facts

On 21 July 2010, Mr Ariste was arrested for armed robbery. He was interviewed and detained at the police station until 25 July 2010, during which time he confessed to committing this offence and several other offences. He did not have access to legal representation. Mr Ariste claims he was tortured into confessing.Mr Ariste's trial took place on 5-14 March 2012. He remained unrepresented. The only direct evidence directly implicating Mr Ariste was his confession. The Judge rejected his application to exclude the confession. Mr Ariste was convicted by the jury and, on 5 June 2012, sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment. On 18 February 2013, Mr Ariste's appeal to the Court of Appeal of The Bahamas was rejected.In 2016 Mr Ariste was prosecuted for a different robbery on the basis of another confession made during his July 2010 detention. He was legally represented. On 31 March 2016, the Judge held the confession was inadmissible.

Date of issue

24 January 2019

Judgment details

Judgment date

31 May 2023

Neutral citation

[2023] UKPC 18

Judgment links

Appeal

Justices

Lord Lloyd-Jones

Lord Kitchin

Lord Hamblen

Lord Leggatt

Lord Burrows

Hearing dates

Start date

28 March 2023

End date

28 March 2023

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