‘They want to hang me!’

A WOMAN, who in 1993 killed her two young stepchildren and buried them in shallow graves at the back of her house in Central Trinidad, claims the State wants to carry out the death sentence on her although she has been on Death Row for more than five years.

Yesterday, British Queen’s Counsel Peter Carter, local Queen’s Counsel Dr Fenton Ramsahoye and attorney Anand Ramlogan, took up the plight of Angela Ramdeen, 42, before a High Court Judge and contended that the woman’s case fell outside the Pratt and Morgan Privy Council’s five-year stipulation for keeping murderers on Death Row. Trinidad and Tobago adopted that ruling, in which the State must ensure all appeals are exhausted within five years. If the reason for going beyond five years is a fault of delay on the part of the Death Row prisoner, then he or she can be hanged. If not, their sentences must be commuted to life imprisonment under the grounds of cruel and unusual punishment. The State, through its attorneys, yesterday challenged the constitutional motion filed by Ramdeen.

In reply to her motion, the State is contending that Ramdeen’s attorneys are responsible for the delay and therefore the Pratt and Morgan deadline does not apply to her case. Ramdeen was convicted and sentenced to death for the murders of Tulsie Varun Dass, eight, and Sabrina Hemawatee Dass, seven. She exhausted all appeals to the Privy Council which confirmed her death sentence in 1997. The murders took place at Carlsen Field, Chaguanas, where Ramdeen lived with the stepchildren and her common-law husband. Ramdeen has been on Death Row for six years. Newsday learnt that there are 24 prisoners on Death Row whose appeals have exceeded the stipulated five-year period. Queen’s Council Carter told Justice Peter Jamadar in the San Fernando High Court yesterday that the Privy Council referred the case back to the Appeal Court when fresh medical evidence revealed that Ramdeen was suffering from “Battered Wife Syndrome.” Solicitors in England acting for Ramdeen petitioned the Ministry of National Security in 2000 to have the information available. It was not forthcoming, Ramdeen stated in her motion.

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday was then National Security Minister, but Carter told the judge the onus was on the State to ensure that all the procedures were put in place to facilitate Ramdeen’s appeals back to the Privy Council. Carter told the judge that political pressure or a campaign by the press could be some of the factors which determine why a prisoner may or may not be allowed to remain on Death Row. “And unless her lawyer intervenes, she dies,” the Queen’s Counsel added. He described the State’s criticism on affidavit of Ramdeen’s attorneys being responsible for the delay, as “misconceived.” Arguing the case for the State are Ian Benjamin, instructed by Oresha Charles and Carol Fourilleur. When hearing resumes this morning, Ramsahoye will make his submissions. State attorneys are expected to reply afterwards. Ramdeen’s sister, Rema Nandlal, was present in court yesterday.