The long-running matter commonly known as “the Beach Case” was postponed again today (12 December 2025) after prosecutors failed to present their witnesses, despite the court previously ordering them to be ready.
The case had been adjourned from 6 November 2025 to today’s date, after defence attorney Mr Boing raised what he described as “certain defects” in the prosecution’s file. At that earlier hearing, the magistrate ruled that witness testimony would proceed first, noting that such evidence could potentially “cure” the defects before ruling on the defence submission.
“I pointed out to the court certain defects in the file,” Mr Boing said at the November hearing. “The magistrate said that while those defects may exist, he would prefer to hear the witnesses, as their testimony could cure them. He will only rule on my submission after hearing the evidence.”
However, when the matter was called this morning at the St John’s Magistrate’s Court, the prosecution—led by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions—reported that its witnesses were not available and that it was not ready to proceed.
The magistrate then adjourned the case to 23 February 2026.
Political commentator George Wehner, who is among those summoned for allegedly trespassing on the traditional public access route to Laurys Bay, expressed disappointment at the repeated delays, saying he and others had presented themselves prepared to answer the summons.
Wehner has been vocal about what he sees as broader issues of fairness and access to justice, pointing again to the Small Charges Act, a colonial-era law under which the trespassing charge falls.
“Those laws criminalised ordinary actions—like walking on a neighbour’s land or picketing,” he said earlier. “Now, even after independence, we still use them to control the same people they were meant to oppress.”
The Beach Case has drawn significant public interest amid growing national debate over beach access and land rights. Supporters of the defendants have continued to call for transparency, due process and the preservation of traditional access routes.
The matter is now expected to resume on 23 February 2026, when the prosecution is once again scheduled to present its witnesses.
