Where it all began

June 29, 1994: Thirty-eight-year-old, wife, mother and homeopathy doctor, Chandra Naraynsingh was shot five times at close range as she attempted to enter her car at the car park of the Langmore Health Foundation Clinic, Palmyra Village San Fernando.

July 4, 1994: Suspected hitman Shawn Parris was identified as the shooter but attempts to apprehend him failed as he was said to have fled to the United States. Parris was arrested in 2000 in the United States and was extradited to Trinidad to face the charge of murdering Naraynsingh.

February 12, 2004: Parris was sentenced to 30 years in jail after the acceptance of his plea for the charge of manslaughter and becoming a state-witness in the case. He had convinced Justice Herbert Volney that he was acting under a $10,000 contract for the murder.

December 29, 2004: Naraynsingh’s husband Vijay Narayansingh was arrested at the Piarco International Airport by members of the Homicide Bureau for the murder of his wife.

January 5, 2005: In a report to the PM, the AG said Sharma raised his shirt to show him a surgical scar across his abdomen saying that Naraynsingh had saved his life 14 years ago and could not have murdered his wife, and Sharma asked if the trial could be aborted.

February 16, 2005: PM told the Senate he is fact-finding. He said he got two letters from the AG and DPP making serious allegations against Sharma, whom he notified. Manning said that if he is satisfied that the matter should go further, he must refer it to the President who appoints a tribunal to investigate.

March 1, 2005: High Court Judge Mark Mohammed gave a statement to PM supporting the AG’s account of the meeting with Sharma, which he said had made him feel uncomfortable

March 5, 2005: Deputy Chief Magistrate, Mark Wellington, ordered the release of Naraynsingh on the charge of murder. After walking out of the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court Naraynsingh told reporters that he was concerned for Sharma as he saw the investigation of his attempt to have the charges dropped as an injustice.

April 2, 2005: The PM told the House of Representatives that he advised the President to set up a tribunal to examine the question of removing Sharma.

April 6, 2005: Sources said the PM would advise the President to suspend Sharma if he tries to block the establishment of a tribunal to investigate him, so that Sharma would not head the Judiciary which adjudicates on any application for judicial review or a constitutional motion by Sharma.

April 7, 2005: Mark Mohammed’s statement was published.

April 13, 2005: Sharma applied for judicial review against PM’s request for the President to appoint a tribunal to investigate Sharma who alleged the PM’s move was illegal and breached natural justice and is disproportionate, null and void, and of no effect.

April 14, 2005: Justice Humphrey Stollmeyer agreed to Sharma’s request to block the tribunal on the eve of its appointment by the President.

April 16: The President, although not bound by the court, said that out of respect for the judiciary, he will not appoint the tribunal at this stage.

CJ’s alleged interference in Basdeo Panday integrity trial

April 24, 2006: Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls sentenced former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday to two years imprisonment. Panday’s attorneys express their intent to appeal the decision.

May 5, 2006: Mc Nicolls complained that Sharma tried to influence him in the trial of Panday.

May 10, 2006: PM summons CJ to Whitehall over complaint by Chief Magistrate.

May 11, 2006: AG issued a statement saying Mc Nicolls complained that Sharma tried to influence the Basdeo Panday trial for not declaring his $10 million London bank account

May 12, 2006: PM told Sharma that he referred Mc Nicolls’ complaint to AG, and has begun proceedings under section 137 of the Constitution on the question of removal of CJ from office.

May 13, 2006: PM told House that Sharma was incoherent and emotionally distraught when PM read him Mc Nicolls’ letter. Manning then reportedly suggested that, if Sharma wishes he could exercise the option to demit office voluntarily rather than be subject to any administrative or criminal proceedings.

May 14, 2006: British Queens Counsel Sir Timothy Cassel issued a statement saying that on January 5 on his BWIA flight to Trinidad to prosecute the Panday trial, Sharma had told him it was a weak case (because in a Hindu family the wife looks after the finances, which was the defence of Panday) to which Cassell replied that Sharma should read Cassel’s opening speech before commenting on the strength of the case.

May 19, 2006: Police with a warrant raided CJ’s offices and took away documents.

July 2, 2006: A Secretary said she saw Panday in CJ’s lobby at the Hall of Justice, but Panday said he can’t remember if he visited CJ.

July 7, 2006: Lawyers for PM and CJ in court each seek to strike out parts of each other’s affidavits.

July 11, 2006: Justice Judith Jones granted injunction to stop criminal charges against Sharma being laid by Deputy DPP Carla Brown-Antoine.

July 14, 2006: Justice Jones lets Sharma block ACP Wellington Virgil.

July 14, 2006: CJ’s Judicial review of the PM’s call on the President to appoint a tribunal to investigate Sharma is scheduled to be heard on October 2.

July 15, 2006: In a late-night sitting Justice Jones lets Sharma block arrest by any of the 7,000 officers of the Police Service, while police had gone to Sharma’s house with a warrant to arrest him.

July 21, 2006: Newsday publishes telephone records revealing calls between the Sharma residence and the office and cell phone of Justice Judith Jones on the night of the CJ’s attempted arrest.

July 21, 2006: The Prime Minister meets with the President at President’s House to discuss the issue.

July 25, 2006: President Richards announces his intent to take swift action to resolve the CJ issue.

July 26, 2006: CJ wrote to the President informing him that he would only be carrying out administrative duties and not be adjudicating in any matters.

July 28, 2006: President George Maxwell Richards appointed Court of Appeal Judge, Roger Hamel-Smith, as Ag Chief Justice.