Battle begins: Lightbourne, Knight face off at Manatt enquiry
Published:Tuesday | March 8, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
K.D. Knight, the attorney for the People's National Party (PNP), issued a stern warning late yesterday that he would not be distracted by the shenanigans of lawyers representing the Government and the Jamaica Labour Party, as the eagerly anticipated showdown between himself and Minister of Justice Dorothy Lightbourne materialised during the Manatt-Dudus commission of enquiry.
As Knight started, the objections came in a flurry.
Knight said he suspected that there was a plot to sabotage his cross-examination of Lightbourne.
"If I have to go for 40 days and 40 nights, I am going," declared Knight.
"Does that mean you are in thewilderness?" quipped commission Chairman Emil George as the exchanges came fast and furious.
"They have a plan, and it's not going to work ... them trying to truncate the process," chipped in A.J. Nicholson, the PNP's legal adviser.
The cacophony of objections surfaced after Knight asked Lightbourne whether she was of the view that some public servants, including Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Jeremy Taylor and former police commissioner, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, conducted themselves appropriately in the execution of their duties.
Dr Adolph Edwards, one of the attorneys representing Lightbourne, objected to the question.
Hugh Small, the attorney for Prime Minister Bruce Golding, supported Edwards' objection.
Small warned George that there were persons usurping the terms of reference of the commission of enquiry.
He contended that it was the commissioner who should make a ruling on appropriate behaviour, not Lightbourne.
However, George eventually overruled the objection.
Lightbourne said Taylor did not follow the proper procedure when he brought a draft document to her.
Responding to Knight's queries, Lightbourne maintained that she was not made aware of the existence of United States law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips until after it was revealed in March last year.
"The first time that I heard the name was when Dr Peter Phillips (former minister of national security) brought the matter to Parliament," Lightbourne, who is also the attorney general, asserted.
She acknowledged she was told of American lawyers (who could assist). "But I was not aware of a law firm," declared Lightbourne. "A firm was never in my mind."
The drama all started with Lightbourne and Knight wrestling over whether the US was oppressive in the handling of the exchanges following its extradition request for ousted Tivoli Gardens enforcer Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.
Knight: "Sounds as if you are saying that the US was oppressive?"
Lightbourne: "Don't put words in my mouth."
Knight then steered the questioning to Lightbourne's knowledge of Manatt.
As she had done in the past, Lightbourne strenuously denied knowledge of the US law firm.
Knight then introduced the recording of a radio interview with Lightbourne in which she vehemently denied knowledge of Manatt.
Small suggested that the tape should not be introduced without finding out, among other things, if the tape was doctored.
However, Knight countered that he would ask whether Lightbourne recognised her voice.
Lightbourne said that after hearing Phillips' statement in Parliament, she telephoned Solicitor General Douglas Leys and sought information.
Knight is scheduled to continue cross-examining Lightbourne today.