Lawyers call absent police disrespectful

THE LIST of matters to be heard in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Fourth Court came to a speedy end as the matters were quickly called and adjourned or stood down by Senior Magistrate Lianne Lee Kim yesterday. For one reason or the other, several of the complainants did not turn up for the hearings, causing some attorneys to describe the level of absenteeism by police officers as “disrespectful to the court.” One litigant Edwin Cheeky, who had been arrested and charged for possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking since September 24, 1994, expressed his displeasure at the manner in which the judicial system had been handling his matter.

He said he felt that he was being victimised because of the length of time it had taken the court to deal with his case. Lee Kim reminded him that he had specifically requested that the matter not proceed unless his attorney, Keith Scotland were present. According to her records, she said, Scotland had been absent on the last ten occasions that Cheeky had been scheduled to appear in court. She added that it was no fault of the prosecution since it had always been ready to proceed with the matter. Cheeky then asked Lee Kim, “If I have a matter for over ten years, do I still have a matter?” to which the amused magistrate responded, “That is a rhetorical question.” The complainant involved in this matter, WPC Jordan, is currently on vacation. Cheeky will re-appear in court in April next year.