Sean Parris still without attorney

THE CONFUSION over legal representation for murder accused Sean Parris continued Monday as the accused was still unable to retain a defence lawyer.

Parris said he believed that the Legal Aid department was playing games with him. For almost 20 minutes he voiced his concerns to Justice Hubert Volney in the San Fernando High Court, over the disorder associated with his case. Parris, a maximum security prisoner, was brought from Remand Yard to the First Court where his matter was listed for mention. He is charged with the shooting murder of Dr Chandra Narayansingh on June 29, 1994.  Since April 1, Parris’ case has been set for trial but was unable to begin due to uncertainty as to which legal aid lawyer was appointed to the case. Parris complained Monday that during the last six years he has been remanded in prison awaiting the start of his trial. Four attorneys were assigned to represent him. “It is six years that I am in prison and I want this case to start more than any judge,” Parris stated.

The murder accused said that from media reports he believed that Legal Aid was giving the impression that he (Parris) was frustrating the judicial process. But, Parris continued, he was only seeking a fair trial with legal representation seeking his best interests. He said attorney Desmond Allum had consented to represent him, but before he could write to the legal aid department to make the request, another attorney had been appointed to his case. Parris, however, expressed his satisfaction with attorney Brian Dabideen as the instructing lawyer.
“I just want to have a fair trial,” he pleaded. Justice Volney replied: “Well that is the idea. You must have a fair trial and with counsel you are comfortable with. I want all the representation and everything to be sorted out this month so that a date can be fixed. Because of the age of this matter I have to do everything humanly possible to bring it to trial.”