Trinidadian to be extradited to Canada

A 22-year-old Trinidadian was yesterday ordered to be extradited to Edmonton, Canada, to face a charge of murder. The extradition hearing before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls was swift and fast. Just two witnesses — Cheryl Blackman, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Attorney General, and Sgt Wendell Williams, of the local Interpol Branch — gave evidence. Shaun Darren Toon is wanted in Edmonton, Canada, on a five-count indictment. It is alleged that on September 21, 2003, at Edmonton, he caused the unlawful death of Keith Hunter Raglon, thereby committing second degree murder. Toon is also charged with unlawfully using a firearm to commit murder, possession of a hand gun, possession of a firearm without a licence, and shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Toon was arrested by members of the Interpol Branch in a house in Ste Madeline last month. His arrest followed an extradition request from the Attorney General of Canada. When the matter was called in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Magistrates’ Court yesterday, David West, representing the requesting country, called Blackman and Williams to the stand. Their testimony was short and there was no cross-examination by Toon’s attorney Om Lalla. There were no addresses as Lalla left it up to the court to make a ruling. The Chief Magistrate said he was satisfied with the evidence led by the prosecution, and agreed that a prima facie case had been made out against the fugitive.

Mc Nicolls ordered that Toon stand trial as charged. Toon was then committed into custody pending his extradition to Canada. However, the Chief Magistrate advised Toon of his right to apply to the High Court for a writ of habeas corpus. According to the evidence, Edmonton Police responded to a report on the morning of September 21, 2003 that a man had been shot. On arrival, the police found the man, who was later known as Raglon, aged 20, lying on the ground suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Raglon was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Investigations were conducted and statements taken from witnesses who identified Shaun Toon as having possession of a hand gun when several shots were heard.

One witness identified Toon as the person who lifted his shirt at a time when several gunshots were heard. Based on the statements of witnesses, Toon was later charged. But when the police went to Toon’s family residence in Edmonton to look for him, his whereabouts were unknown. The police found out that he had links to Trinidad and Tobago.  Sgt Lorne Pubantz, of the City of Edmonton Police Force, later contacted the TT Interpol Branch and provided details of Shaun Toon.  The fugitive was later arrested in Trinidad on a provisional warrant for his extradition to Canada. The victim, Keith Raglon, was 20 years old at the time of his death. An autopsy revealed that he was shot four times. There was also alcohol in the blood. The cause of death was attributed to multiple gunshot wounds.