Covid19 stops criminal trial

AN ongoing criminal trial of a Valencia man charged with being in possession of a stolen car had to be temporarily stopped because of fears of covid19 at the location where witnesses are giving evidence.

Kyle Darlington is before Justice Gail Gonzales at a virtual trial on a charge of theft by being in possession of a stolen car sometime around February 19, 2009.

The trial started on Wednesday and two prosecution witnesses testified from King’s Court on Frederick Street in Port of Spain, where the Judiciary has set up rooms for witnesses to give their evidence virtually.

On Friday, Darlington was supposed to begin his defence, however, attorneys received a call from the court adjourning the matter to next week Thursday.

Gonzales told defence attorney Larry Williams and prosecuting attorney Norma Peters that the matter had to be adjourned to facilitate the sanitisation of the King’s Court location. She made no mention of covid19 but sources told Newsday that a contracted security officer had tested positive for the virus.