Couple’s murder trial yet to start

THE murder trial of Darrin Thomas and Natasha de Leon, accused of killing a Ste Madeleine taxi driver 13 years ago, was unable to commence yesterday in the San Fernando High Court. The delay prompted a judge to express concerns about why the case could not get off the ground. The trial of Thomas, 32, and girlfriend de Leon, 30, was fixed to begin in the Third Assizes yesterday, but Thomas was not brought down from prison. Justice Devan Rampersad commented: “I’m very concerned on the vintage of the matter.” Thomas’ attorney Margaret Rose complained to Rampersad that the accused was absent, although a judge had granted a harbeas corpus motion to have prison authorities take the murder accused to court. Thomas’ and de Leon’s case was fixed to commence yesterday.

Coupled with the absence of the accused, Rose said, was the fact that she (Rose) was denied permission by prison authorities at Golden Grove to meet her client (Thomas). “I don’t know if for some reason we (Thomas’ attorneys) are not being allowed to see him. I don’t know if attempts are being made to thwart the conduct of the defence,” Rose told Rampersad. Rose complained that it was not the first time that Thomas was not brought down in defiance of the harbeas corpus order. Thomas and de Leon are charged with the murder of Ste Madeleine taxi driver Reuben Paul Jaskaran. Jaskaran was found dead on December 28, 1992, near the Usine Ste Madeleine pond with his body bearing multiple stab wounds. De Leon is being defended by Learie Alleyne-Forte.

When the matter was called yesterday around 9.20 am, neither Thomas nor de Leon, who are imprisoned at Golden Grove, were brought into the courtroom. The matter was stood down and called again around 10.30 am. De Leon was eventually taken into court, but not Thomas. Rose told Rampersad, “We are going to take this further today.” The attorney requested the judge postpone the case for today to allow the State to explain the non-appearance of Thomas. Alleyne-Forte urged Rampersad not “to let the matter rest,” saying “no authority should be allowed to flout a harbeas corpus order issued by a judge.” Rampersad said he would investigate why Thomas was not brought to court from prison. “We will do our level best to have this matter start this month,” the judge promised. The case was postponed for today.