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#bdwlogs The Ramdhanie Case
On 18th October, 1996, Deochan Ramdhanie, Mantoor Ramdhanie, Patrick Toolsie & Ken Gresham were arrested in Point Fortin by members of the Narcotic Squad & charged with trafficking approximately 7 kgs of cocaine.
On 18th October, 1996, Deochan Ramdhanie, Mantoor Ramdhanie, Patrick Toolsie & Ken Gresham were arrested in Point Fortin by members of the Narcotic Squad & charged with trafficking approximately 7 kgs of cocaine.
They were reputed to be major players in the local drug trade.
On 6th May, 1997, they were convicted before Justice Stanley John at the Chaguaramas High Court. The legal battle pitted Karl Hudson-Phillips QC for the Prosecution against Theodore Guerra SC for the accused.
On 6th May, 1997, they were convicted before Justice Stanley John at the Chaguaramas High Court. The legal battle pitted Karl Hudson-Phillips QC for the Prosecution against Theodore Guerra SC for the accused.
It was alleged that the drugs were found by police officers in 2 cars occupied by the accused during a sting operation.
In his closing speech, the prosecutor waxed hyperbolic in describing the defence case as being that "all police are bandits and scamps, perjurers & infidels",
In his closing speech, the prosecutor waxed hyperbolic in describing the defence case as being that "all police are bandits and scamps, perjurers & infidels",
while "all others in this society are vestal virgins."
They were sentenced to life imprisonment not to be released before the expiration of 20 years, and confiscation orders were made against them totalling approximately $6 million dollars.
They were sentenced to life imprisonment not to be released before the expiration of 20 years, and confiscation orders were made against them totalling approximately $6 million dollars.
In September, 1998, Deochan was taken to the Princes Town Magistrates’ Court as a witness for a man on a car stealing charge. While he was kept in the cells at the court house, Ramdhanie mysteriously disappeared, but was later caught in Venezuela and brought back to Trinidad.
He pleaded guilty to the escape in 2002 and was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment.
His escape occasioned a Commission of Inquiry in 1999, following which several police officers were charged, but no one was ever convicted.
Mantoor died in prison in August 2003 at age 58.
His escape occasioned a Commission of Inquiry in 1999, following which several police officers were charged, but no one was ever convicted.
Mantoor died in prison in August 2003 at age 58.
On 15 December, 2005, the Privy Council overturned the convictions, ordered the State to pay the cost of the appellants & further directed that the nearly 6 million confiscated by the State be returned.
Why? Having studied the whole of prosecuting counsel's final speech,
Why? Having studied the whole of prosecuting counsel's final speech,
their Lordships held that it not only included (a) passages in which counsel in effect told the jury or strongly implied that there was incriminating material which had not been put before them, but that it also contained (b) emotive and unjustified comments on the defence case
...or on defence counsel and (c) a number of passages where counsel improperly vouched for the soundness of the prosecution's case.
Once again, a key prosecution amounted to naught & ended up costing tax-payers more in the end. #bdwlogs
Once again, a key prosecution amounted to naught & ended up costing tax-payers more in the end. #bdwlogs
