Appeal Court judges want rules for appeals

Appellate court judges are advocating that Criminal Procedure Rules apply to criminal appeals.

The call came after Justices of Appeal Alice Yorke-Soo Hon, Rajendra Narine and Mark Mohammed were forced to adjourn an appeal of six men who were in 2015 convicted of the murder of two young girls.

It was not the first time the appeal has been adjourned and after one of the convicted arsonists yesterday complained through his attorney that he was frustrated and upset over the situation, Justice Soo Hon said she hoped the time came when appellate court judges had the power to impose sanctions on attorneys for failing to meet the deadlines set by the court.

“There is an obligation on both sides to meet the deadlines. The new (Criminal Procedure Rules) do not apply to appeals...But I think the time has come when clearly it should, to get things moving along,” she said.

According to Soo Hon when appeal dates are vacated it creates a domino effect, affecting other appeals in the queue.

New dates for the filing of submissions were set and the appeal has been adjourned to October 31. The six — brothers Shiva, Ryan and Vishan Bajnauth and their half-brother Soman Rampersad and friends, Junior John and Kenny Mohammed — were convicted in June of 2015, of setting fire to a home in Freeport in 2009, killing sisters Sangeeta, six and Sarah, three. They were sentenced to death.

The men are represented by a team of attorneys which includes Senior Counsel Sophia Chote and attorneys Ravi Rajcoomar, John Heath, Chase Pegus and Kern Saney. The prosecution is represented by Assistant Director of Public Prosecution George Busby.