High Court Judge Francis Belle on Monday expressed concern about the impact a recent statement by Attorney-General Elvin Nimrod could have on the soon-to-be re-constituted Prison Review Board, even as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Christopher Nelson, apologised for the statement. No fair hearing Justice Belle, who was at the time continuing to hear statements from the prosecution in the Grenada 13 re-sentencing case, said it was difficult for anyone to expect the board to give a fair report on the convicted men's suitability for early release based on the recent statement by the Attorney-General. "How can one be so sure that when the review board goes to sit that they have not already decided what their (the Grenada 13) fate will be" the judge said as he interrupted Nelson, who was at the time suggesting that the convicted men be given life sentences and allowing the board to determine on their suitability for early release at a later date. The board, which had been defunct for a number of years, would be re-established within two weeks, government recently announced. Nimrod recently said that the Grenada Government would do all within its power to ensure that former Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard and others convicted of murdering left-wing prime minister Maurice Bishop and 11 others in 1983 remained in prison. Following Justice Belle's interjection, Nelson apologised to the court for the Attorney-General's comment which had previously drawn sharp criticism from defence lawyers. Sentencing options As he continued to put the prosecution's case at re-sentencing hearing which was ordered by the London-based Privy Council earlier this year, the DPP told the judge to examine his sentencing options, including life imprisonment and consecutive sentences for each of the 11 counts of murder on which the 13 were convicted. Reprinted from jamaica-gleaner.com