‘Infected’ warrant to be used

DEFENCE attorneys for the eight persons and the three companies charged with offences relating to the new terminal development project at Piarco International Airport were told by Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls yesterday that he had over-ruled an objection they made on Thursday. The defence team had on Thursday vehemently objected to an “infected” search warrant being tendered into evidence by the State, as well as documents seized from the premises on execution of the warrant. They had claimed that the warrant did not bear the name of the company on which it had been executed. However, yesterday, Mc-Nicolls did not come prepared to give the reasons for his ruling. A letter he had received from the defence requesting an adjournment had given him the impression the hearing would not have proceeded as scheduled.

The defence team, via Frank Solomon SC, indicated that the request for an adjournment had not been intended to affect yesterday’s hearing and McNicolls suggested that since both sides had come prepared, the hearing should proceed as scheduled. However, in light of the magistrate’s ruling on their objection, the defence deliberated over whether or not they should continue without first knowing McNicolls’ reasons for over-ruling their objection. They eventually decided to wait until those reasons were revealed, in order to make allowances for an appeal. The prosecution, via Gilbert Peterson SC, indicated that it had no objections. Lead prosecutor Karl Hudson-Phillips QC is currently out of the jurisdiction.

McNicolls assured the attorneys that copies of his reasons would be made available to them yesterday afternoon. After today’s hearing, the eight accused, who include former Government Ministers Brian Kuei Tung and Russell Huggins; businesswoman Renee Pierre; CEO of Northern Construction Ltd (NCL) Ishwar Galbaransingh; financial comptroller of NCL Amrith Maharaj; CEO of Maritime General Insurance company John Henry Smith; chairman of Maritime Group of companies Steve Ferguson and company secretary, Barbara Gomes, will re-appear in court on April 5. The next witness to give evidence will be Snr Supt Maurice Piggott. If Piggott is not available today, the State will call WPC Archie to the witness box. Piggott is currently involved in a trial being heard in the High Court.