Attorneys hammer out deal over documents

A quarrel over the rights to certain documents in the Piarco Airport corruption case came up before the Court of Appeal yesterday, but before the court ruled on the matter, attorneys from both sides agreed to work out a solution to the problem. Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls, who is hearing the preliminary inquiry, had ruled that the prosecution must make available to the defence, all documents in its possession and relevant to the case, for inspection. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed Mc Nicolls’ decision, which came up yesterday before Justices of Appeal Rolston Nelson, Wendell Kangaloo and Ivor Archie.

Lead counsel for the defence team, Allan Alexander SC, told the court the real issue was not a question of inspecting the documents, but having them admitted into evidence. There was much argument about the defence’s right to the documents and to have them tendered into evidence if the defence so desired. The court suggested that both sides sit and work out a management process whereby the defence could decide which of the documents, if any, it wanted in the proceedings. The court took a short break to allow the attorneys to discuss the matter and possibly come to an understanding.

On resumption, the court was informed that an agreement had been reached to work out a process to provide the defence with all those unused documents by the State. When attorneys, who included Alexander and Vernon De Lima for the defence, and Gilbert Peterson SC, deputy DPP Carla Brown Antoine and Elaine Greene for the State, returned to court, they informed their lordships of the agreement and the matter was adjourned to a date to be fixed.