Judge rules tomorrow in Abu Bakr’s trial

HIGH COURT Judge Mark Mohammed will tomorrow decide if Jamaat al Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr will be called on to make his defence to the conspiracy to murder allegations. Arguments relating to legal submissions were completed yesterday afternoon, leaving Justice Mohammed to make his decision. When hearing resumed yesterday morning, the nine-member jury and two alternates were present. But their presence was brief. Justice Mohammed told the jury that legal submissions were still in progress and there was no need to have them present. Justice Mohammed sent the jury away until 9.30 tomorrow morning.

After the sequestered jury was sent back to the Port-of-Spain hotel, defence attorney Pamela Elder continued her submissions, which she had started last Thursday. When she was completed, lead prosecutor Sir Timothy Cassel responded, taking just 20 minutes to make his point. That was all over at 12.50 pm. Justice Mohammed told the court that he will need some time to consider the arguments and said he would give his ruling at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning. Bakr, 64, is charged with conspiring with others to murder former Jamaat members Salim Rasheed and Zaki Aubaidah at Citrine Drive, Diamond Vale in Diego Martin on June 4, 2003.