Statements will not be admitted

Article by RACHELLE AGARD

All oral or written statements made by Private Shane Coulthrust are inadmissible.

That was the ruling by Judge Advocate Lieutenant Commander Rita Evans yesterday after defence attorney Andrew Pilgrim QC had objected on Monday’s opening day to lead investigator Sub-Lieutenant Alexander Kellman reading from his official notebook.

In it were a number of oral submissions made to him by the accused, which Pilgrim said could be considered admission or a confession to the crime.

Coulthrust, 33, has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges of misconduct associated with his actions while on duty as the coxswain aboard Coast Guard vessel The Endurance on April 19, 2019. He then held the rank of able bodied seaman. (RA)

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