Artesia primarily covers court stories, but she also writes extensively about crime.
Adrian Gibson, the member of Parliament for Long Island, pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of bribery, money laundering, conspiracy and fraud related to an alleged racket concerning the grant of contracts while he served as the executive chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation.
Gibson and his alleged co-conspirators in the scheme, Rashae Gibson, his cousin; his campaign general Joann Knowles; Elwood Donaldson Jr., the former general manager at the corporation; Peaches Farquharson; and Jerome Missick all pleaded not guilty to the 98-count indictment at their arraignment before Senior Justice Bernard Turner.
It’s not yet known which judge will hear the trial.
Turner initially said that the defendants would appear before Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson for a trial date to be set on September 27.
However, he suspended the assignment after Murrio Ducille, KC, said he would “prefer another court” without providing any reasons.
Ducille represents Adrian Gibson, Missick and Knowles. In response to a question from the court, Ducille and his clients said that they did not see any possible conflict of interest by having the same lawyer.
Donald Saunders and Damien White represent Donaldson; Raphael Moxey represents Farquharson and Brian Dorsette represents Rashae Gibson.
They did not share Ducille’s opposition to Grant-Thompson hearing the case.
Turner will make a decision on the venue of the trial after hearing submissions in his chambers today at 9:30 a.m.
Vernal Collie appeared on behalf of the director of public prosecutions.
