Alleged gang leader Rajaee Ali and 11 members of his organisation accused of assassinating Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal will have to wait a while longer before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar decides whether she will recuse herself from their case.
When the 12 accused men reappeared before Ayers-Caesar in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court this morning, their lawyer Criston J Williams attempted to make an oral application for her recusal from the case.
However, Ayers-Caesar indicated that the application should be instead done in writing to allow prosecutors to respond. She then gave Williams a deadline of October 16 to file the application.
The men's application is premised on the allegation that some members of the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit (CGIU) which investigated the case were also assigned to Ayers-Caesar's security detail.
A similar application was made earlier this year in Ali's other case for conspiring to murder radio announcer Kevaughn "Lurbz" Savory in November, last year. That application was eventually approved by Ayers-Caesar who reassigned the case to Senior Magistrate Ejenny Espinet.
In response to Ayers-Caesar's order, Williams said he would need information on the officers attached to the unit to assist in his written application.
Both Ayers-Caesar and prosecutor Tricia Hudlin-Cooper indicated that his request for the information would only be facilitated if he makes a written request.
Williams as well made yet another request for the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to disclose all evidence that they plan to use against his clients. Hudlin-Cooper assured him that her office will facilitate that request before the next hearing on November 5.