Pardon for convicted killer

BOODRAM BEDASSIE, who was convicted 28 years ago for murder, is to receive an unconditional pardon from President George Maxwell Richards. The Advisory Committee on the Power of Pardon (Mercy Committee) at a meeting on Monday, decided that Minister of National Security Martin Joseph advise the President to exercise his powers under Section 87 (2) (a) of the cons-titution to grant a free and unconditional pardon to Bedassie. Section 87 (2) (a) states: “The President may grant to any person convicted of any offence against the law of Trinidad and Tobago a pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions.”

The meeting of the Mercy Committee was chaired by Minister Joseph and included acting Attorney General Camille Robinson-Regis. The decision of the Mercy Committee was forwarded yesterday to Solicitor General Lynette Stephenson, who is representing the Attorney General in a constitutional motion brought by Bedassie last year, and which came up for hearing last Friday. Bedassie’s lawyers were also informed yesterday of the decision of the Mercy Committee. One of his attorneys, Gerald Ramdeen, rushed up to the Port-of-Spain State Prison to give Bedassie the good news. Ramdeen told Newsday that when he went to the prison, he was informed that his client was in the Infirmary (sick bay). “Bedassie could not come down, so I went up to see him. He was lying down, he looked weak, he lost a lot of weight. He is very ill. I told him of the decision of the Mercy Committee.

He was very happy, but he wanted to know when he was getting out of the prison.” Ramdeen said prison officers at the city jail were also happy to hear that Bedassie was going home soon. Ramdeen said he was very happy for the pardon for his client. “But I am also sad that it had to reach this state. “My client is virtually on his death bed. I hope this will serve as an example for those in authority that other prisoners will not suffer the same fate as Bedassie.” Mark Seepersad, who also appeared for Bedassie, said he was so happy, he could cry. “We have been seeking this for Bedassie for a long time. He should have been pardoned a long time ago.” Bedassie, 65, filed a constitutional motion against the Attorney General last year in which he was seeking among other things, his release from prison. The case is expected to be called again in the Port-of-Spain High Court in October. Bedassie was arrested on November 9 1974, and charged with the murder of Mohan Dindial which occurred two days earlier. He was found guilty of murder on April 28 1976, and sentenced to death by hanging.

The Court of Appeal dismissed Bedassie’s appeal on October 26, 1976 and affirmed the death sentence. He appealed to the Privy Council but this was dismissed on March 24, 1978. From the time he was found guilty, Bedassie said he was sent to Death Row and kept in a cell for at least 23 hours a day. He pointed out that on many occasions during the 18 years on Death Row, he was not allowed outside the cell for airing. Bedassie said during his time on Death Row, he used to hear the gallows trap door and the screams of people being hanged. “As time passed, I became very depressed and frustrated as I did not understand at the time the death sentence was passed upon me that I would have been made to suffer for a period of time which transcends an average life sentence before the sentence imposed upon me was carried out.”

In 1980, Bedassie said he filed a constitutional motion challenging his conviction, but this was dismissed. He lost the appeal in 1987. He said several convicted prisoners were pardoned while he was on Death Row. The Court of Appeal stopped Bedassie’s hanging after he filed a constitutional motion. Bedassie’s death sentence was commuted on January 4 1994, along with 41 others following the decision of the Privy Council in the Pratt and Morgan case. He was given 75 years in prison. Bedassie has expressed remorse and regret that his action in 1974 resulted in the loss of life of another human being.