Magistrate tells Benjai, ‘Stay home’

Told to return on June 27, Magistrate Natalie Diop warned Le Blanc not to make any bookings with airlines to leave the country. The soca artiste had indicated he is due to leave Trinidad next month, but did not indicate if his appointments abroad were confirmed. The court takes precedence, the magistrate told Le Blanc, and advised him not “to make any confirmed bookings to leave the country”.

Le Blanc is charged with assaulting PC Valentine Eastman at San Fernando Hill on December 18, 2010, after a performance. Le Blanc is alleged to have spat on the officer after his arrest for using obscene language.

Khan was due to make a legal submission to have Eastman recalled for cross- examination about charges against him for human trafficking.Last month, Eastman was arrested and charged with several counts of transporting three Colombian woman to Vistabella for the purpose of prostitution.

When attorney Andre Rajkumar told Diop that Khan was ill, the magistrate accepted the explanation, but told Le Blanc not to confirm plans to leave the country. She said, “This case started since January and whilst the court recognises your commitment abroad, the case must take precedence. So I’m asking you not to confirm bookings.”

Diop also issued a fresh summons to the medical records department’s keeper at San Fernando General Hospital, for the medical records of Le Blanc from December 18, 2010. On the adjourned date of June 27, the magistrate said, she would hear Khan’s legal submission, the prosecution’s reply and would give her ruling thereafter.