Judge vows to start delayed murder trial

After 12 years, High Court judge Devan Rampersad has vowed to start the murder trial of Darren Thomas and girlfriend Natasha De Leon next week Monday. The judge told attorneys in the  San Fernando High Court yesterday: “This matter must start Monday morning — no longer than that. I don’t want to waste anymore time.” Despite insistence by Justice Rampersad to begin the trial, however, defence attorneys representing Thomas and De Leon sought a further adjournment from the judge. De Leon’s attorney Learie Alleyne-Forte told the court he intended to pursue legal action against the State’s delay in bringing the case to trial.

Thomas, 32, and De Leon, 30, are charged with the murder of Ste Madeleine taxi driver Reuben Paul Jaskaran. Jaskaran was stabbed to death and his body dumped at the Usine Ste Madeleine pond on December 28, 1992. Alleyne-Forte asked Justice Rampersad to adjourn the start of the trial until the middle of next week, to enable him to file affidavits to challenge the 12-year delay of the trial. Thomas’ attorney, Margaret Rose, echoed Forte’s submissions, saying she had previously indicated her intentions to file affidavits on the issue of the delay. State attorney Narissa Ramsundar told Justice Rampersad that the State was ready to begin the prosecution’s case.

The defence attorney’s intentions did not sway the judge’s mind to begin the case, which is estimated to last six weeks. Justice Rampersad indicated that his reason for adjourning the case to Monday was for De Leon’s instructing attorney to become acquainted with the case. The judge told Alleyne-Forte, “I am prepared to adjourn the matter in light of the fact that the instructing attorney was appointed on Tuesday. On that basis I will adjourn.” “This matter will start Monday morning, no longer than that,” Justice Rampersad said.