Acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan is expected to rule on Thursday in a no-case submission in the case against Jason Edwards, the first man prosecuted under the Anti-Gang Act. Edwards, 36, of La Romaine, is charged with being a gang member under the Anti-Gang legislation. He was arrested during last year's state of emergency. He was among hundreds who were detained for allegedly being gang members.
However, Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard found there was insufficient evidence, and discontinued prosecution against all, except Edwards. Edwards, who was charged by Sgt Hayden Manwaring, pleaded not guilty to the charge after which the trial began in March before Rambachan in the San Fernando First Court.
The prosecution, led by state attorney Trevor Jones, closed its case after leading evidence from five witnesses. Edwards' attorney Jason Jackson then made a no-case submission. Last Friday, he submitted written submissions, arguing the prosecution had not shown any gang existed. To show that a gang existed, the prosecution needed to show specific things from the act and that had not been done, he argued.
Submissions continued yesterday, with Jones countering that a statement given by Edwards while he was in custody at the San Fernando Police Station was sufficient to show that not only did a gang exist, but also that Edwards was a member. Jones is expected to submit a written response to Jackson's submission on Thursday, after which the magistrate is expected to rule.