Crapaud foot cops

Cedeno, presiding over the hearing in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Court, lamented the illegibility of statements recorded by officers, that were submitted for examination by defense attorneys. The issue was raised by defence attorney Jennifer Osborne, who called the handwriting, “totally incomprehensible.” “Your worship I received copies of statements taken by officers from witnesses and I couldn’t understand a single word. The statements submitted before the court are totally illegible,” Osborne said. Magistrate Cedeno expressed her disappointment in the poor organisation of prosecution attorneys in submitting statements in a timely manner.

“The issue of police officers and their poor penmanship seems to become a regular occurrence. With that said, I want to urge officers to please make every attempt to take careful, legible recordings, especially as it relates to something as important as recording witness statements,” the magistrate chided.

During the hearing, the testimony of crime scene investigator WPC Josanne Rochford assumed full focus, as defence attorneys Osborne and Nigel Trancoso, took turns conducting rigorous cross-examination of statements provided the officer, who is posted at the Specialty Evidence Unit. Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) George Busby called for a two-week adjournment of the matter which would allow the prosecution to file and serve necessary statements.

This prompted one of the accused Stephan Cummings to state that a further extension of their detainment was unfair and unusual.

“This court is of the opinion that the prosecution has to get its act together and start working on their witnesses. I really thought the prosecution would have begun work on their own over the court vacation so that by August 25, when the matter resumes, we should have some substantive witnesses and the statements for submission be filed,” a stern Magistrate Cedeno said.

Ten men who appeared in court yesterday included former Life Sport coordinator Rajaee Ali, his brother Ishmael Ali, Stephan Cummings, Devaughn Cummings, Earl Richards, Kevin Parkinson, Roger Boucher, Hamid Ali, Ricardo Stewart and Gareth Wiseman who are all charged with murdering Dana Seetahal SC and gang offences.

Stacy Griffith (Rajaee Ali’s wife) is charged with committing an act to benefit a criminal gang and has been remanded into custody until August 25, when she is expected to appear before a magistrate. Seetahal was shot dead behind the wheel of her SUV after being ambushed by gunmen along Hamilton Holder Street, Woodbrook on May 4, 2014.