Accused freed of Dana murder charge

Stephan Cummings
Stephan Cummings

UPDATED:

Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, SC, has discontinued the murder charge against one of 11 men charged for the murder Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal. Prosecutors in the preliminary inquiry into Seetahal’s murder in 2014 yesterday informed Senior Magistrate Indrani Cedeno that the DPP had exercised his powers under section 90 ( c) of the constitution and discontinued the proceedings against Stephan Cummings. The notice of discontinuance was presented to the court.

The announcement was made in the absence of the ten other men also accused of Seetahal’s murder. The only people in court were attorneys and police officers. No reason was given for the discontinuance of the proceedings against Cummings, whose brother Devaughn, is also charged with Seetahal’s murder.

Minutes earlier, Cummings appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle on a charge of conspiracy to murder Seetahal. He was granted $200,000 bail for that charge. When the inquiry resumed before Cedeno, Cummings (S) was not among the accused people. He was taken from the courthouse before the others were brought in.

Testifying yesterday were Seetahal’s sister, director of the Financial Intelligence Unit Susan Francois and Ma Pau Casino security guard Oden Nero. In May 2015, Cummings and several others were freed of gang-related charges because of a blunder made by the DPP’s Office when the charges were laid.

Of the 13 men, ten are still before the courts for the former independent senator’s murder, including the lone woman - Stacy Griffith - who was also charged with committing an act for the benefit of a gang. Griffith is however, out on bail. Griffith’s husband, former LifeSport coordinator Rajaee Ali, who is also charged with Seetahal’s murder did not benefit from the magistrate’s ruling as he has been charged with being a gang leader. Those still before the court charged with murdering Seetahal and with other gang-related offences are Devaughn Cummings; Ishmael Ali (brother of Rajaee Ali); Ricardo Stewart; Earl Richards; Gareth Wiseman; Hamid Ali (brother of Rajaee Ali); Kevin Parkinson; Leston Gonzales and Roger Boucher. Seetahal was shot dead on May 4, 2014.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has discontinued the murder charge against one of the men charged with killing Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal.

Stephan Cummings, one of 11 men charged with the former Independent Senator's murder, appeared before senior magistrate Indrani Cedeno where the announcement was made this morning. Minutes earlier, he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle Caddle on a conspiracy to murder Seetahal charge. He was granted bail in the sum of $300,000 for the conspiracy charge.

In May 2015, Cummings and several others were freed of gang related charges because of a blunder made by the DPP's office when the charges were laid.

Seetahal was shot dead behind the wheel of her SUV while driving along Hamilton Holder Street, Woodbrook, on May 4, 2014.

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