High Court Judge Carla Brown-Antoine has warned Justice Minister Herbert Volney that his recent comments relating to an ongoing trial before her may amount to contempt of court. Brown-Antoine made the statement at yesterday's hearing of the case against Curtis Taylor for stealing more than $123,000 in merchandise in 1984 from the Stephen's and Johnson department store. The store, now closed, was located on Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain. Brown-Antoine said: "This court may have to consider at a future date whether the remarks of the Justice Minister amount to a contempt of court.
"I have been informed by state attorneys that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard has written to Volney, advising him that his statements may amount to a contempt of court. "During the continuation of the trial this court advises Volney, the media and other citizens to refrain from publishing any matter which seeks to influence the outcome of this case, or which seeks to influence the decision of the jury in this case or which may prejudice the due administration of justice." Brown-Antoine said the warning stemmed from a comment made by Volney, which was quoted in a daily newspaper, (not the T&T Guardian), in which he commented on the 27-year-old case.
In April last year, Volney, who was also a High Court judge at the time, fined Power 102 FM for contempt of court over a coverage of a high-profile murder trial at which he was presiding. An inquiry among the nine jury members and two alternates was conducted to determine whether any of them had viewed the articles on the matter and whether they were able to continue to sit in the case. At the end of the inquiry the court directed the jury to refrain from reading all local newspapers in any form for the duration of the trial. Attempts to contact Volney for comment up to late yesterday evening were futile. The matter against Taylor is expected to continue before Brown-Antoine today.