A new court has been introduced at the Port-of-Spain magistracy. Officials said the 4C court, which started work yesterday, was introduced to assist Magistrate Melvin Daniel, who currently presides over the 4B court. Senior Magistrate Annette Mc Kenzie presides over the 4A court.
Mc Kenzie's court deals with matters involving marijuana and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Sources said Daniel's case-load currently includes over 1,900 matters, of which trials were now being set for September and October. Matters currently listed before Daniel include possession of arms and ammunition, armed robbery, kidnapping, false imprisonment and shootings.
Speaking with the T&T Guardian on condition of anonymity, police said Senior Magistrate Gail Gonzales will be presiding in the 4C court, which will deal with matters that do not involve exhibits and that can be concluded quickly. "There are no established criteria to determine what matter will be heard before Daniel and Gonzales," one officer said.
The T&T Guardian learnt that the idea of splitting the court was decided on last Friday. The two prosecutors assigned to Daniel's court, Sgts Stanley Joseph and Henderson Andrews, were told of the move yesterday morning when they reported for duty.
Members of the public whose matters were listed for hearing yesterday and which were no longer on Daniel's list were told to return to court for 1 pm, when Gonzales was expected to begin sitting in the Port-of-Spain Second Court. Contacted yesterday, court protocol and information manager Jones P Madeira said he was unaware of the addition, but promised to furnish the T&T Guardian with any information as it became known.
This latest addition now brings the total number of courts in the Port-of-Spain magistracy to 13.