Judges warn cops to turn up for appeals

THE failure by two policemen to attend Thursday’s Appeal Court hearing in San Fernando forced two appellate judges to free two men on charges of marijuana possession and larceny. Justices’ Wendell Kangaloo and Margot Warner had cause to issue a stern warning from the bench for policemen to attend court hearings after the officers failed to show up before their Lordships during hearing of magisterial appeals.

“We have to read the cases, then sit here. But on the date of the appeal they (police complainants) do not show. Something has to be done about this,” Justice Kangaloo said. The appeals which were dismissed, involved Cpl Mervyn Downing who appealed the dismissal of a charge of marijuana possession against Victor Carrington and an appeal filed by Sgt Samlal Kenneth for the dismissal of a larceny charge against Desmond Chandler.
Attorney Keith Scotland who represented the State, told their Lordships the absence of the policemen was out of his control. Scotland said when he contacted acting Director of Public Prosecutions Carla Brown-Antoine to inquire about the policemen, he was told Cpl Downing was on police exercise in the Nariva Swamp while Sgt Samlal was in a meeting with his seniors.