Gaspard vex over lawyer’s absence

Gaspard was particularly upset since five State Witnesses including Pauline Lum Fai — Sean Luke’s mother — were slated to give evidence.

Gaspard told the magistrate that some sort of arrangement ought to have been made for an attorney to hold brief in the event the defence counsels — Wayne Sturge and Celeste Jules — are absent from the proceedings.

However, presiding Magistrate Marcia Ayres-Caesar said she had no choice but to adjourn the case.

Two youths, one aged 13 and the other aged 16, are before the courts charged with murdering Luke, an American citizen, on March 28. Luke’s body was found in a canefield behind his Orange Valley, Waterloo home.

When the case started two Fridays ago, Sturge was not at court and in his absence his colleague Celeste, who is representing the elder of the two accused boys, held brief.

But yesterday, both Sturge and Jules were absent and Gaspard told the magistrate that the defence attorneys should have given the court some prior notice — whether verbally or via letter — of their impending absence.

The deputy DPP also told Ayres-Caesar that he did not want the perception to flourish that the State was “dragging its feet” in the matter, when the opposite is closer to the truth.

Gaspard then called before the court the five witnesses who will testify on behalf of the State in the PI.

They include Sgt Ramlogan, PC Ragoonath, PC Duprey, PC Nicholls and Luke’s mother Pauline Lum Fai. The matter was adjourned to August 18.