The preliminary inquiry into the 20 murder charges brought against a girl following the Mahdia dormitory fire is slated for October 19, 2023 at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court, according to Attorney at Law Dexter Todd.
Todd yesterday told Stabroek News that legal proceedings will be filed before the High Court for the protection of his client’s rights since the Mahdia Commission of Inquiry refused to stay its work.
Public Hearings of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Mahdia dormitory fire commenced last week Friday where the caretaker of the neighbouring boys’ residence Steve Jerome detailed how he helped to rescue girls from the burning Mahdia dormitory including his daughter after kicking down a door. Hearings did not continue yesterday as there was no quorum.
This newspaper last week reported that Todd had written to Secretary of the CoI, Javed Shadick on August 31, 2023, noting that his client had been remanded since the tragic incident on May 21 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 were to begin on 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”, he had explained in the letter.
But Shadick said the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) will continue with its work, despite Todd’s request.
“We will continue our work… in that Act, there’s Section 9 which basically governs our work. And in that section, it says we can manage and make rules accordingly. So, from the inception, I had held a meeting and told everyone that this CoI will be different to the last one” he had related to this newspaper.
“We know that children are involved and have to be protected. So, the rules governing this CoI, the Chairman and other members of the inquiry have sat down and made decisions. And we’re fully aware they have to protect children’s rights,” Shadick said.
“I have acknowledged Mr Todd’s case in point but we have to follow the statutes in the CoI Act”, he added.
