I never tried to tape-record lawyer

ADMITTING that the best evidence is that which is corroborated, a policeman with 16 years service yesterday testified that he made no effort to electronically record San Fernando attorney Wilston Campbell’s remark to him at a pub in which he asked him to accept $1,500 to “drop” a case against one of his (Campbell) clients. PC Curt Simon told Justice Prakash Moosai and a jury trying Campbell for perverting the course of justice, that he only became aware of tape recorders being used in police investigations three years ago. Campbell, 55, an attorney of Harris Promenade, San Fernando, is on trial charged with paying Simon the money nine years ago at a pub to have a charge dropped against Anjay Singh. Singh was charged by Simon with allegedly cheating at the CXC examinations.

Simon, the State’s first witness when the trial began last Friday, was cross-examined yesterday by Campbell’s attorney Desmond Allum SC. Simon was asked by Allum if he agreed that the crucial evidence against Campbell’s alleged criminal act, was the exact words of the accused. Simon replied in the affirmative and  admitted that it was just his words against Campbell’s. “But the police have resources of tape recorders,” Allum, instructed by attorney Subhas Panday, suggested to the police witness. Simon replied: “I have never seen a tape recorder used.” Allum told Simon that having regard to such a charge in which the exact words used were crucial evidence, he took no steps to corroborate the police evidence of Campbell saying to him, “take $1,500 and drop the case.” When hearing resumes today, the State will call its second witness.