Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul has deemed the statements given by four of the accused in the robbery of Justice Nicola Pierre and her family to be admissible at their trial.
Magistrate Ally-Seepaul handed down the decision yesterday at the Better Hope Community Centre, where the trial of the five accused, Daymeion Millington, Nicholas Narine, Premnauth Samaroo, Warren McKenzie and Anthony David, is ongoing.
The five men are on trial for allegedly robbing the judge and her husband, Mohammed Chan, of cash and articles amounting to over $3.6 million, as well as shooting at security guard Ron Peters on July 9, 2015.
The decision was based on the findings of a voir dire that was conducted to determine the admissibility of written and oral statements that police say were given by Millington, as well as the oral statements of Samaroo, David and McKenzie.
Millington had objected to the admission of the written and oral statements that police say he gave, telling the court that he could not remember giving the police an oral statement and that he was forced into signing to a written one.
Magistrate Ally-Seepaul said the court found that the statements were given freely and voluntarily and under the circumstances they could be used as evidence against the men at the trial.
After the decision was announced, special prosecutor Nigel Hughes closed his case.
The matter was adjourned until March 16th by the magistrate, who advised Millington and McKenzie to be prepared to put forward their defence in the case next week. The two accused will now have the opportunity to give evidence in the matter.
