Lawyer sent to DUI Court
A lawyer has been ordered to take part in a drink-drivers court treatment programme.
Paul Wilson, 41, admitted obstructing police officers and having care and control of a car while over the legal blood-alcohol limit when he appeared in Magistrates’ Court last year.
Wilson, from Hamilton Parish, initially denied the offences, as well as having care and control of a vehicle while impaired by alcohol and attempting to pervert the course of justice by “reminding and advising police officers” of his position as a Crown counsel.
The latter two charges were dropped when Wilson appeared in court for sentencing yesterday.
Wilson worked for the Department of Public Prosecutions, but was assigned to another department until the matter was adjudicated.
The court heard in July, before Wilson changed his plea, that police found him asleep in his car, which had its engine and headlights on, in Devonshire on December 2, 2023.
Wilson was taken to Hamilton Police Station and body camera footage showed him telling officers he would “find out who put you guys up to this”.
Elizabeth Christopher, for the Crown, suggested that Wilson take part in DUI Court and be granted a conditional discharge with probation for obstructing police.
Marc Daniels, Wilson’s lawyer, called his client a “tireless advocate and lawyer” who experienced “significant tragedies” in his life and had since resigned from the DPP’s office.
Cindy Clarke, the Director of Public Prosecutions, confirmed that Wilson resigned.
Magistrate Craig Attridge ordered that Wilson participate in DUI Court starting on Tuesday and granted him a 12-month conditional discharge for the obstruction offence.
The conditions include completing the court programme, writing an apology to the police involved, not committing another offence for one year, notifying his probation officer of a change of address or employment and not leaving Bermuda without permission.
Mr Attridge also suspended Wilson’s licence and disqualified him from driving all vehicles until further notice.
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