Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:12 hours 48 min ago
PM expected in court today
Published: 14 Oct 2009
There is expected to be a heightened security presence in and around the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court today, as Prime Minister Patrick Manning is expected to appear in court to answer a private complaint brought against him. Manning is the first sitting prime minister in the history of the country to face a private criminal charge brought against him by a member of the public. A woman identified in the summons as Natasha Cumberbatch is the complainant. She has alleged that on May 21, in Port-of-Spain, Manning used annoying language to her. According to the charge, Manning used “annoying language with intent to provoke the complainant (Cumberbatch) to commit a breach of peace, contrary to section 49 Chapter 11:02 of the Summary Offences Act.”
On June 25, Cumberbatch laid the complaint before a Justice of the Peace at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court. A summons was later issued and served, which ordered Manning to appear before a magistrate today. The summons also listed Manning’s address as the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s. Checks at the court revealed Manning’s case is listed to be heard today before Second Court Magistrate Christine Charles. Judicial sources said because of Mannings’ status, the case would be transferred before Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls or Senior Magistrate Lucina Cardenas-Ragoonanan. The offence carries a fine of $200 or 30 days’ imprisonment. According to a judicial source yesterday, the Summary Courts Act states that once a person has been served, they could either represent themselves in a private complaint or the individual could be represented by their attorney.
“Once he is served, he may attend and the charge would be read to him and he would be asked to enter a plea. “Once the person is served the matter could proceed in their absence through their attorney as long as the defendant gives his attorney instructions to proceed. “The attorney will do all the cross-examination and make legal submissions,” the judicial officer said. According to the source, a magistrate could use his or her discretion if a defendant was served and he is absent and he had no legal representation in court. “The presiding magistrate could issue a warrant, a further summons or proceed with the matter in the absence of the defendant,” the source said yesterday.
The source added it would be in the Prime Minister’s best political interest if he attended court when the matter is called, which would show the public he too, could be treated equally in the eyes of the law.
Very interesting indeed.
Very interesting indeed. Note the two likely magistrates to hear the case. If in the unlikely scenario the PM were to be found guilty of the alleged offence and the CM is hearing the case, hypothetically speaking, will the CM hand down the maximum penalty and sentence like he did when he found a former PM guilty as charged?
Prince sorry to burst your
Prince sorry to burst your bubble but if the CM hearing the case no way his friend the PM would be found guilty, why yuh think they chose him as one of the two likely to hear the case.
Obeahwoman, you must have
Obeahwoman, you must have noted that I prefaced my assumption with the following words: "If in the unlikely scenario the PM were to be found guilty of the alleged offence and the CM is hearing the case.."
So, I wasn't really blowing any bubbles. But thanks, in case you thought I had any illusions.
"Manning used annoying
"Manning used annoying language"
This is interesting...the outcome will be even more interesting.
Natasha Cumberbatch hats off to you for your brave stance in taking action against this man.
Maybe more people should start taking real action against this PM instead of just mouthing off.
Is this a joke? Mr Manning
Is this a joke?
Mr Manning was charged for using annoying language? But if this is an offence, then Colm, Neil, Gary, Mariano, Paula, Kennedy and so many other of his colleagues can also be charged as they annoy us all whenever they speak down to us in their condescending manner.
We all know the outcome of this as the case will either be dropped because the complainant failed to show (intimidation perhaps?) or some other technicality.
http://dsaltsman.blogspot.com/
Is this correct? The
Is this correct?
The offence carries a fine of $200 or 30 days’ imprisonment
30 days imprisonment for not paying a TT$200 fine?
La Diva
La Diva, the penalty is
La Diva, the penalty is either or. Remember how he warned his opponents not so long ago: "Jail ent nice". Seeing how he so vain, dimple and all, cross-dresser wearing sister's shalopain clothes, I hope Mac don't send him down for the 30 days, if in the unlikely event he is found guilty as charged of the alleged offence. Those inmates can be real rough in the antics they get up to.
What de Hell is
What de Hell is .,.,.,..,
What de hell is annoying language is that like arss and damn or is it like Elmo on seasame street?
This man done lose so much discrimination case already in court and no reprimand,,,so where we going with this .Just another waste of time and money.
Look let we take about snap election and getting rid of this damn ..(oops.. annoying language, sorry) I mean incompetent government eh.
JP
Perhaps he said "I love you"
Perhaps he said "I love you" like the former minister did in Point Fortin!
I'm more annoyed than Epsom
I'm more annoyed than Epsom the salts man! This case is frivolous. We have so many other things they could 'bring up' the Hon. PM for and they 'bring him up' for annoying language? Bring him up for lack of potable water in rural areas, bad roads, traffic jam, high food prices, high cost over runs, lavish spending, designs on the Red House...but annoying language??!
ajfyzabadbutlertown
amirjairam
amirjairam
We have so many other things they could 'bring up' the Hon. PM for and they 'bring him up' for annoying language?
Think of Al Capone. They did not get him for breaking the Prohibition laws. They got him for... tax evasion. Remember OJ Simpson. They got him for have a gun etc... not for killing his former wife and her friend, which almost everyone believed him guilty of. The subsequent sentences were considered 'harsh' compared to the 'secondary crime' but, they still got what was coming to them.
As far as I am concerned, they could get Team Manning et al for not putting kuchela in their doubles, as look as they get them!
La Diva
I stick to my guns, La Diva,
I stick to my guns, La Diva, and respectfully so to you, as your contributions are so valuable and analytical (honestly, and no tongue-in-cheek). Even as I defer to you, I beg to differ.
While this court matter will make all the headlines and the big news on TV, we are forgetting that they (most likely someone who don't want the fella appear in court) just shot up a state witness' home in my home town Fyzabad. Lucky, the fella said on tv, nobody was by the window. His mother was in the habit of leaving the window curtain 'one side' so that she could peep outside, and that probably made the shooters think there was someone there. Except if we have 'iron curtains' now, no state witness, especially one who blows the whistle on security officers, is safe anymore.
And so, the country burns, the Hon. PM will be taken before a Magistrate and you and I know what the outcome will be in this little twin-island 'banana' republic. Mind you, we don't know if the man, in Astley Merton's words, was saying 'I love you'!
And the charade will continue. Read the headlines tomorrow, listen radio, watch tv: same story. In the meantime....
ajfyzabadbutlertown
Aye, you remember Dole
Aye, you remember Dole Chadee? He got the noose around his neck for the murder of a family, but was never arrested or charged for the dozens of people he murdered, nor the volume of illegal drugs that he imported/distributed.
But you and I know that this case not going anywhere. I'll be surprised if it even makes the news on tv tonight.
http://dsaltsman.blogspot.com/
One way or the other, it is
One way or the other, it is we the taxpayers who will have to pick up the expense tab. I am sure that Israel Khan will defend the PM for a paltry couple of hundreds of dollars.
JP you are in full force,
JP you are in full force, watch your language
Do we actually believe that
Do we actually believe that the Emperor will appear before the courts in his own kingdom? Who will challenge him if he is a no show?
Citizens look at the two
Citizens look at the two alternate judges McNicolls and Lucina
Cardenas both judges are Manning supporters. Anybody but these judges would have been ok.
BEFORE THE PNM IS SHAMED
BEFORE THE PNM IS SHAMED -
The Jamat will storm the Red House first, like they did the last time.
...this is a good practice
...this is a good practice drill Patos....there's heavier stuff on the way....