‘Kidnappings every day’

KIDNAPPINGS in Trinidad are continuing nearly every day although Sheldon “Skelly” Lovell, labelled the country’s “greatest criminal/kidnapper” has been in jail for the past three months.

Lovell’s attorney Patrick Godson-Phillips, in seeking bail for his client on a charge of kidnapping, said there is a perception that if  “Skelly” gets back on the streets, there will be more kidnappings. “But the kidnappings haven’t stopped,” Godson-Phillips told Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court yesterday. “It is happening from Point Fortin to Port-of-Spain look what happened last night. He has been in custody for the past three months, but the kidnappings haven’t stopped.” Godson-Phillips continued, “They (the authorities) have Lovell down as Trinidad’s greatest criminal. There shouldn’t be any fear of Lovell and his colleagues. Kidnappings are continuing, but Lovell is under the State’s control.”

Lovell, Sean “Gumbo” Vincent, Brent “Small Brent” Danglade, and others are charged with the kidnapping of businessman Dennis Persad-Jodhan, who was snatched from his home at Evans Street, Curepe, on December 23, 2002. He was found dead five days later off the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, Aranguez. They were also charged with kidnapping psychologist Dr Ronald John and teenagers Yves Ayoung Chee and Benedict Barette on separate occasions. While the others stood in the dock, Danglade was absent. Danglade, who is a prosecution witness in the conspiracy to murder charge laid against Jamaat Al Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr, did not appear in court yesterday. The Chief Magistrate inquired from the prosecution why Danglade was not brought to court. State attorney Marrisa Gomez told the court that based on information received, Danglade was not brought to court because there was no security to escort him. Danglade is being kept at the Maximum Security Prison where he is considered to be a “high-risk” prisoner. Senior Counsel Rangee Dolsingh represented Danglade.

Following Godson-Phillips’ submission, Chief Magistrate asked the prosecutor Sgt Kenneth Cordner if he had anything to say. The prosecutor responded, “I will not be drawn into the rhetoric of counsel. Under the Bail Act, the accused is entitled to bail. The offence is very prevalent in society but the court has a discretion.” Godson-Phillips asked, “Prevalent? Lovell has been put into a category as the greatest kidnapper. The Prime Minister made a remark, people are on the Internet, people are calling from England that Lovell is the greatest kidnapper in the world. It is going on every day in Trinidad. What is important here is that Lovell will attend court.” Mc Nicolls acceded to the request and fixed bail in the sum of $150,000 to be approved by the Clerk of the Peace. “Skelly” burst out in laughter. Godson-Phillips shouted, “This is not a laughing matter.” The Chief Magistrate asked the accused why he was laughing. “Skelly” replied, “I thought with the length of time I spent in jail, I would not have to get a surety.” Mc Nicolls said he was not removing the surety from the bail approval. Because of Danglade’s absence, Mc Nicolls then adjourned the preliminary inquiry to Thursday.