Her is the maths. He has served 5yr 2m. He has worked for 3y7m (had a job in the prison for which his time is counted as double). This means he is viewed as haveing served 8y9m.
under nicaraguan law he can apply for parole after serving 2/3 of sentance.
Therefore if the new sentance is anything less that 14 yrs he can apply. This will mean another hearing (probably in a few months time).
Whether or not he is granted parole, he can apply for deportation, either under parole or as still serving his sentance. this process will also take a number of months.
So right now he is hopeful. things for the first time are significantly moving for him
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Personal reflections
What I'm learning
I've been praying a lot about this. Expecting things to happen. I get disappointed when things don't happen when and how I am expecting.
For instance I'd been expecting this hearing a week ago, took a day off work, and set aside time to pray - then it happens his week at almost zero notice, but I'm able to be there because I'm staying only 4km away from the courts.
I meet the consul to plan how to get steven a new lawyer. Then the next day, his hearing actually happens and his current lawyer, with whom I'd been pretty unimpressed, seems to do a good job. (in that it is his job o get the hearing).
However the consul sends one of his team to the hearing to translate for steven, and to make notes and a report. All seems to work out well
Also I've been reading systematically through a few books of the bible. This landed me this morning on two stories. firstly that of boaz and ruth, and how he is a kinsman redeemer. An ancient jewish custom whereby family members would take care of relatives who are met with hard times, in that case widows. It reminded me strongly of the "coincidence" of finding steven here, a man from my own community, and the bond I feel for him because of that fact. The second was of peter being led out of jail by and angel in acts chapter 12, really reminding me how powerful God can be when it comes to prison related issues. These seemed very apt to be reading as I sat outside the court, eating a breakfast of southern fried chicken and plantain, waiting for the hearing to begin. I spent the hearing praying for the three of them, and for the judge, that she would show mercy, and feeling very confident that God was certainly the most influential person present.
Late in the afternoon, I was granted a "special visit" with steven. We had an hour to sit and chat and discuss things as the sun was setting. It felt very normal, and not like a prison at all.
We talked of the hearing but also of family, friends and of birmingham. We talked about steven's growing fanclub of people in his local church who,though having not met him, still care for him. We talked about the bible and we thanked God for the hearing and prayed for the judge.
and i brought him his weekly groceries.
We had had a really good day together
And he needs dental treatment and he is devouring books (not related).
I've been praying a lot about this. Expecting things to happen. I get disappointed when things don't happen when and how I am expecting.
For instance I'd been expecting this hearing a week ago, took a day off work, and set aside time to pray - then it happens his week at almost zero notice, but I'm able to be there because I'm staying only 4km away from the courts.
I meet the consul to plan how to get steven a new lawyer. Then the next day, his hearing actually happens and his current lawyer, with whom I'd been pretty unimpressed, seems to do a good job. (in that it is his job o get the hearing).
However the consul sends one of his team to the hearing to translate for steven, and to make notes and a report. All seems to work out well
Also I've been reading systematically through a few books of the bible. This landed me this morning on two stories. firstly that of boaz and ruth, and how he is a kinsman redeemer. An ancient jewish custom whereby family members would take care of relatives who are met with hard times, in that case widows. It reminded me strongly of the "coincidence" of finding steven here, a man from my own community, and the bond I feel for him because of that fact. The second was of peter being led out of jail by and angel in acts chapter 12, really reminding me how powerful God can be when it comes to prison related issues. These seemed very apt to be reading as I sat outside the court, eating a breakfast of southern fried chicken and plantain, waiting for the hearing to begin. I spent the hearing praying for the three of them, and for the judge, that she would show mercy, and feeling very confident that God was certainly the most influential person present.
Late in the afternoon, I was granted a "special visit" with steven. We had an hour to sit and chat and discuss things as the sun was setting. It felt very normal, and not like a prison at all.
We talked of the hearing but also of family, friends and of birmingham. We talked about steven's growing fanclub of people in his local church who,though having not met him, still care for him. We talked about the bible and we thanked God for the hearing and prayed for the judge.
and i brought him his weekly groceries.
We had had a really good day together
And he needs dental treatment and he is devouring books (not related).
courtroom drama
Steven has been waiting for a hearing for the last 6months at least.
Today it happened
There was a change in the sentancing law over 6months ago which means that the recommended sentance for steven's crime was reduced to 10-15 yrs (his sentance currently stands as 22yrs)
We have a had a couple of false starts over the last month, due to inaccurate or incomplete paperwork from the prison.
Today however we got the real thing.
One courtroom (whitewashed room with a couple of desks, a working computer and two non-functional typewriters)
One steven
Two other prisoner
One defence lawyer (who I like to call pafilopolis)
One prosecuting lawyer
One judge
One representative from the honourary consul's office - a young lawyer called eduado
One clerk
and me (in my cleanest shirt)
Pafilopolos was first to speak. Very nervous, stumbling over broken sentances (rally not like it is on telly). Has couple of books with him to quote (maybe reminding him what the new laws are..?) He gradually gets up a head of steam and asks tha judge to reduce the sentance to 10 yrs.
Next the prosecuter lawyer, seemed even less competant, wants steven to stay for 15 yrs, not quite sure why.
Then pafilopolos has another go, and actually sounding much more convincing.
The judge, having put up with all this says she'll have 20 minutes to think about it.
Half an hour later we get a message to say she'll call us all back at some point in the next 5 working days
Today it happened
There was a change in the sentancing law over 6months ago which means that the recommended sentance for steven's crime was reduced to 10-15 yrs (his sentance currently stands as 22yrs)
We have a had a couple of false starts over the last month, due to inaccurate or incomplete paperwork from the prison.
Today however we got the real thing.
One courtroom (whitewashed room with a couple of desks, a working computer and two non-functional typewriters)
One steven
Two other prisoner
One defence lawyer (who I like to call pafilopolis)
One prosecuting lawyer
One judge
One representative from the honourary consul's office - a young lawyer called eduado
One clerk
and me (in my cleanest shirt)
Pafilopolos was first to speak. Very nervous, stumbling over broken sentances (rally not like it is on telly). Has couple of books with him to quote (maybe reminding him what the new laws are..?) He gradually gets up a head of steam and asks tha judge to reduce the sentance to 10 yrs.
Next the prosecuter lawyer, seemed even less competant, wants steven to stay for 15 yrs, not quite sure why.
Then pafilopolos has another go, and actually sounding much more convincing.
The judge, having put up with all this says she'll have 20 minutes to think about it.
Half an hour later we get a message to say she'll call us all back at some point in the next 5 working days
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