Legal arguments delay lawyer’s trial

THE START of the attempted murder trial involving attorney Joseph Melville and taxi-driver Hilton Winchester was delayed yesterday when defence counsel made a second application to deal with a legal matter. Justice Melville Baird had ruled yesterday morning on a legal matter raised by senior State prosecutor Trevor Ward. Following the ruling, defence attorneys Nathaniel King and Ken Sagar, who represent Melville, indicated that they would like to raise another legal matter in the absence of the jury.

Depending on Justice Baird’s ruling, the trial may start today with Ward, who is being assisted by prosecutor George Busby, making his opening address to the nine-member jury. Melville and Winchester are before the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court charged with conspiracy to murder and the kidnapping of Patricia Cox. They are also charged with attempted murder and assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Cox, at St James, on June 28, 2001. Thomas Cunningham is representing Winchester.