Seeromani gets leave to challenge DPP
SEEROMANI MARAJ-NARAYN- SINGH, wife of prominent vascular surgeon Prof Vijay Naraynsingh, has moved a step closer to facing trial by a judge and jury for Dr Chandra Naraynsingh’s murder. A High Court judge yesterday granted her leave to challenge the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP’s) delay in filing the murder indictment in the High Court Registry, for the listing of her trial. Justice Charmaine Pemberton, presiding in the San Fernando High Court, yesterday granted leave to Maraj-Naraynsingh to seek judicial review of the delay by DPP Geoffrey Henderson. Maraj-Naraynsingh, the professor’s third wife, was committed to stand trial for Dr Chandra Naraynsingh’s murder eight months ago by a magistrate. She was Prof Vijay’s second wife. Maraj-Naraynsingh’s lawsuit was filed Wednesday afternoon and when it came up for hearing in the San Fernando Civil Court yesterday, attorney Anand Ramlogan made legal submissions to the judge. Prof Vijay, who has filed an affidavit in support of his wife’s lawsuit, was also present in court. Maraj-Naraynsingh is seeking a declaration that the DPP is required by law to prepare and file an indictment in the case of all non-bailable criminal offences — within four months of the order of committal or when the type-written copies of the proceedings from the preliminary inquiry become available. Ramlogan yesterday told Pemberton that if the DPP files the indictment, he will no longer pursue the judicial review application. Speaking after yesterday’s hearing, Ramlogan said that if accused persons are entitled to a presumption of innocence, then loss of their liberty imposes a duty on the DPP to ensure their cases are not delayed. "An indictment," Ramlogan said, "cannot take more than five to ten minutes to prepare. What is the delay?"
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"Seeromani gets leave to challenge DPP"