The attorney for the girl who is facing 20 charges of murder over the Mahdia dormitory fire is seeking a stay of the work of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) that has been established until the completion of all criminal proceedings.
Attorney Dexter Todd wrote to the Secretary of the CoI, Javed Shadick on August 31, 2023, noting that his client had been remanded since the May 21 fire and full disclosure was completed in the matter on July 20, 2023 at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court and the tendering of statements as well as the cross-examination of witnesses was to begin September 1st.
“…we need not remind the Commission of what pretrial publicity is and the danger such an act can pose on any criminal proceedings, especially the instant one. We are constrained to highlight the fact, that should this Commission of Inquiry commence momentarily, it is guaranteed to be televised (nationally and internationally) thus putting a lot of sensitive information in the public domain.
“After this Commission of Inquiry has been completed, it is reasonable to conclude that our client will not have an untainted jury since a lot of evidence likely to be exposed by the Commission of Inquiry will also be ventilated at the preliminary Inquiry/trial”, Todd stated.
He said it was for these reasons that he was asking the Commission to stay proceedings. Todd anticipated a response within 24 hours failing which he served notice of proceedings against the state to protect his client’s interests and rights.
Todd released his letter to the CoI yesterday.