the judicial proceedings, The determination of what constitutes
'adequate time' requires an assessment of the individual circumstances of
each case. In the instant case, it is uncontested that the author did
not have more than half an hour for consultation with counsel prior to
the trial and approximately the same amount of time for consultation
during the trial; it is further unchallenqed that he was unable to
consult with counsel prior to and during the appeal and that he was
unable to instruct his representative for the appeal.
"On the basis of the material placed before it, and bearing in mind
particularly that this is a capital punishment case and that the author
was unable to review the statements of the prosecution's witnesses with
counsel, the Committee considers that the time for consultation was
insufficient to ensure adequate preparation of the defence, in respect of
both trial and appeal, and that the requirements of article 14,
paragraph 3 (b), were not met." (annex IX, sect. J, paras. 8.3 and 8.4)
668. Pursuant to article 14, paragraph 3 (c), accused persons are to be tried
without undue delay. In case No. 336/1988 (Nicole Fillastre v. Bolivia), the
accused were indicted on several criminal charges on 12 September 1987; the
determination of these charges had not resulted in a judgement, at first
instance, nearly four years later; the State party had not shown that the
complexity of the case was such as to justify this delay. The Committee
concluded that article 14, paragraph 3 (c), was violated (annex IX, sect. N ) .
669. Article 14, paragraph 3 (d), gives every accused person the right to be
tried in his presence, and to defend himself in person or through legal
assistance of his own choosing; the provision also provides the right to have
legal assistance assigned to the accused, in any case where the interests of
justice so require, and without payment by the accused in any such case if he
does not have sufficient means to pay for it. In finding no violation of this
provision, in case No. 283/1988 (Aston Little v. Jamaica), the Committee
observed that that provision did not entitle the accused to choose counsel
provided to him free of charge (annex IX, sect. J ) .
670. In case No. 230/1987 (Raphael Henry v. Jamaica) the question at issue was
whether an accused had the right to be present during the appeal although he
was represented by legal counsel, albeit by substitute counsel. The Committee
considered that once the author opted for representation by privately retained
counsel of his own choice, any decision by this counsel relating to the
conduct of the appeal, including a decision to send a substitute for the
hearing and not to arrange for the author to be present, could not be
attributed to the State party but instead lay within the author's
responsibility. In the circumstances, the Committee found no violation
(annex IX, sect. B ) .
671. In finding a violation of article 14, paragraph 3 (d), in case
No. 248/1987 (Glenford Campbell v. Jamaica), the Committee recalled that it
was axiomatic that legal assistance be made available to individuals facing a
capital sentence:
"In the present case, it is uncontested that the author instructed his
lawyer to raise objections to the confessional evidence, as he claimed
this was obtained through maltreatment; this was not done. This failure
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