PHILADELPHIA Judge Lisa Richette yesterday placed a gag order on a custody hearing involving Trinidadian brothers,  Michael and Randy Diaz, who remain in protective custody following the June 17 shooting death of their mother Pramatee Rampersad-Celestine, and the surrendering  of their 57-year-old father, Cyprian Diaz, who is facing a five-count indictment at the Philadelphia Criminal Justice Centre.

So strict Judge Richette was, that the children’s uncle, Tharan Rampersad, the only biological relative present, and others,  were refused entry into Court Room H of the Philadelphia Family Court, situated at 1801 and Vine Street. No reasons were given for Judge Richette’s gag order, but Ted Qualli, spokesperson for the Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) told Newsday yesterday:   “The judge placed a gag order on the case and that’s all I know.  We aren’t supposed to talk about it.” The DHS man  said he could not say when the matter was adjourned to, nor whether anyone had won custody of the children, currently in a foster home. The matter was first called at 10.30 am on the Third Floor of the Family Court building in Room 341, where there was a private conference with DHS members.

Among those present outside were Consuelo Paris-Celestine, her Antiguan-born mother Mazie Paris, and brother and sister, Arthur and Estelle Paris.  Paris-Celestine is the mother of Eugene Celestine, husband of  Pramatee, who was also shot and killed on June 17, allegedly by the same killer.  He and Pramatee had been married since December 2002. After the 30-minute conference, the victims relatives were directed to the First Floor in Court Room H, where they were allowed to enter. However, a short while later, a male lawyer from the Public Defenders Department emerged saying Judge Richette does not want anyone else in the courtroom because too much information was “leaking out”. Paris-Celestine protested saying she, her mother and Estelle were all summoned to attend the custody hearing.  But the lawyer informed her that the judge had quashed the summons. He said if anyone of them was needed as witnesses, they will be called.  “This case is too popular.  The children went to get their clothes and the newspapers were there,” the lawyer said. He said the children were “highly traumatised” by everything. Paris-Celestine and the others were never called. At the end of the custody hearing just before noon, not a word was mentioned to anyone. “The authorities knew I was here,” a sad-looking Rampersad said after the custody hearing.

Rampersad, who entered the US on an emergency visa,  said he did not want to comment any further on the custody matter, since it was “too early”.  The Arouca man also did not wish to say what he intends to tell the Judge for his family to gain custody of the two boys, ages 13 and 9.  However, during  the time at the court, Rampersad was in constant conversation with Arthur Paris, a college professor at Syracuse University. Rampersad, however, said he had seen the children briefly at the funeral of their mother in New York on Tuesday.  He said they cried a lot.  They were accompanied by two members of the DHS, who after the shooting deaths, went to the Family Court to get authorisation to have the children. Pramatee and Eugene were shot and killed on the morning of June 17.  Eugene, 29, was found lying face down on the pavement in the first block of North Ruby Street, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, while his wife was found dead in their apartment house on 45th and Arch Street. The shooting deaths have been dubbed ‘a crime of passion’ by Philadelphia police, who stated that Pramatee, Eugene and Cyprian Diaz all lived together in the same house.  After the murders, the children called 911.

Felix Diaz, the twin brother of the Trinidadian man who shot dead his former common-law wife and her husband in Philadelphia a fortnight ago, will travel to Philadelphia over the weekend to seek custody of his nephews Michael 13, and Randi 10, who were orphaned following the death of their mother, Pramatee.

A hearing for custody of the children was listed for yesterday in the Philadelphia Family Court. Relatives of Felix said yesterday  he has obtained a US visa, and has stated his intention to seek custody of  the two boys. They claimed that they have pooled together money to ensure that Felix is able to stay in Philadelphia to attend the custody hearings. The Diaz family of Fishing Pond, Sangre Grande, is contending that the children are the offspring of Cyprian Diaz, and they belong with the Diaz family. They claimed that they are best suited to look after the children. However, the Rampersad family of Lopinot are claiming that it would have been the wish of Pramatee for the children to be returned to Trinidad, and be taken into the care of her mother Chandroutee. They feel that the children will be able to return to a normal lifestyle because they will be surrounded by people who love them.

The boys who are in the care of the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, were taken to the funeral of their mother and stepfather on Wednesday in New York. Relatives said yesterday that Randi, 10, who witnessed the shooting death of his mother is undergoing treatment for shock, and is being counselled. Chanroutee Rampersad,  grandmother of the boys is bed ridden at her Lopinot home and was advised by doctors that she should not travel due to her condition. Her son Taran Rampersad who attended the funeral of his sister on Tuesday, called his mother and informed her that the service was an emotional one. He said he was happy to pay his last respects to his sister. Tarran is expected back home in two weeks, and will await word from his mother on when to petition the court to seek custody.

A Roman Catholic priest, who was arrested on Wednesday night and charged with possession of marijuana, was fined $1,000 or serve three months in prison when he appeared in court yesterday.

Reports revealed that around 9.30 pm, PC Yearwood, along with two others, were on patrol at Pasea Street, St Augustine, when they saw a Nissan car parked on the roadway. Officers became suspicious and carried out a check. They searched the driver of the car who was allegedly found with a hand-rolled marijuana cigarette weighing 1.5 grammes. He was charged by PC Yearwood. When the priest appeared before Tunapuna Magistrate Maria Jasmath at the Tunapuna Second Court yesterday, he pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 or spend three months in prison.

EIGHTEEN-month-old Nicholai Nyack and his three-month-old brother, Mikyle, are grieving for their mother, Tricia Maharaj, who appeared before a Couva Magistrate yesterday charged with attempting to murder her common-law husband, Jason Nyack.

Maharaj, 20, was granted bail in the sum of $50,000 but relatives were unable to come up with the money, resulting in her being escorted to the Women’s Prison. Meanwhile, Nyack remains warded in serious condition at San Fernando General Hospital. “These children are suffering and grieving for their mother. Nicholai only asking for his mummy and Mikyle is still breast feeding. He (Mikyle) is only crying because he wants his mother’s breast,” stated Maharaj’s mother Catherine Baptiste, 35.   

The children’s worried grandmother spoke to Newsday yesterday at her home in Pascal Street, Couva. In the event that the father was thinking about taking his children, the protective grandmother said: “my grandchildren are not going anywhere. Their mother worked hard to mind them, and I am not giving them to anybody.” Sitting with her two grandchildren on her lap, Baptiste said neither she nor her husband, Shawn, 24, had the money to stand her daughter’s bail.

A 29-year-old woman was shot twice while at her jewel shop at St Helena Junction.

Reports revealed that around 1.45 pm yesterday, Rakal Mohammed of Las Lomas, was standing behind the showcase at Saleema’s Jewel shop, when two men entered the shop and pretended to be customers. They fired two shots striking Mohammed in the buttocks and right foot. The gunmen escaped in a waiting car. A report was made to the Caroni Police and an All Points Bulletin was sent out to all police divisions to be on the lookout for the vehicle. The car was spotted in St Augustine and officers of the Canine Unit gave chase, but the suspects were able to escape. Mohammed was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where she was treated and warded. Sgt Lumy, Ag Sgt Ajith Persad and Cpl Thomas along with other officers visited the scene.

A 21-year-old man wanted for the murder of Jillia Bowen, the woman shot dead outside Movie Towne, Invaders Bay, Audrey Jeffers Highway on June 4, was among five murder suspects arrested in a joint police/army exercise carried out on Wednesday night. The man was held in a house at Plaisance Terrace, Laventille, during the joint exercise.

Police sources said yesterday that the suspect will be placed on identification parades today as part of the ongoing investigation. Police officers carrying out investigations into that murder are yet to interview shooting victim Salim Rasheed. Rasheed and Adil Ghani, Bowen’s common-law husband, were both shot several times in the drive-by shooting. Rasheed, an expelled member of the Jamaat Al Muslimeen, was hospitalised at a private institution. Another suspect, wanted for the murder of Mark Granger, who was shot dead at a basketball court at St Barb’s two weeks ago was also arrested in the exercise, while a suspect in the shooting death of Don George was also arrested. Two weeks ago, George was gunned down in front of a silk cotton tree at Picton Road.

A suspect in the shooting death of Trevor Bermudez at Pelican Extension on June 18 was also held, while a fifth suspect wanted for the murder of Clarence Brizan on June 8 at Nelson Street, Port-of-Spain was also held in the exercise. A release from the “Interagency Task Force” revealed that the persons arrested are some of the main players in the gang warfare. A 25-year-old son of a politician was also arrested in the exercise and charged with possession of a pistol and five rounds of ammunition. He was held at a house with four others. The man has a matter pending in court for another gun related charge. Senior officers told Newsday yesterday that with the arrest of the five suspects they are hoping to make a major breakthrough in those five killings, which all took place this month. The exercise yesterday was led by Supt Errpol Denoon and included ASP Alfred Sealey and officers of the joint police/army Task Force. It was co-ordinated by ACP Crime Oswyn Allard.

ARSON is suspected as the cause of a fire which almost destroyed a bench at the Marabella Senior Comprehensive School on Wednesday evening.

Police have since questioned several students in connection with the incident but no arrests have been made as yet. According to police reports, around 2.30 pm, farm attendant Heera Bhagrath, was at the aricultural block, at the back of the school when he saw smoke emanating from the Science area at Block K, room 62. Bhagrath raised an alarm and together with other teachers went in the room where they saw a quantity of burning newspaper on a bench. They immediately extinguished the flames and contacted the Marabella Police Station. Investigations are continuing.