‘Ask Rowley about Adrian’s murder’

AZARD ALI

A MURDER case in Trinidad involving the death of a British citizen was highlighted on Tuesday in the British House of Commons for its long delay in court with some 27 adjournments to date.

Labour MP Neil Coyle, in highlighting the April 2016 murder of Adrian St John, 22, told the House of Commons on Tuesday morning that he wants to meet Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley when Rowley visits London next month. St John, a promising cricketer, was shot dead during a robbery in Mt D’Or while on vacation in Trinidad.

Maldon Pascall, 24, was charged with St John’s murder. Although a preliminary inquiry is pending in the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court, Coyle, in a House of Commons sitting, commented on the 27 adjournments of the case.

Coyle told the UK parliament that St John was a member of his constituency–Bermondsey and Old Southwark, London. Coyle said he and St John’s mother, Sharon, have been working with TT’s government ministers and officials to secure justice.

Hansard records highlighting the murder case during Tuesday’s sitting is posted on the House of Commons web page as well as video clips of Coyle’s presentation. Coyle said, “Honourable speaker, almost two years ago my constituent Adrian St John was murdered in Trinidad. Since then, his mother Sharon and I have been working with ministers and officials in both countries to secure justice, but progress has been grindingly slow.”

Addressing Britain’s prime minister Theresa May, he asked: “Will the government ensure that Adrian’s murder is on the agenda when the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago visits London in April, and, will ministers allow time during Mr Rowley’s official visit to meet Sharon and me to help her to secure justice?”

MP and Minister of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Sir Alan Duncan, then rose and commended Coyle for seeking the interest of his late constituent.

Duncan said he was aware of the case, however, regarding the delay, Britain cannot interfere in the judicial process in TT.

“I commend the honourable gentleman for the manner in which he is defending the interests of his constituent. I am acutely aware of this case. Adrian was murdered in Trinidad. We cannot interfere in the judicial process, but we are extending every possible support. I advise the House that we understand that a preliminary trial to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to charge the accused with murder, will be held on the 8th of March. I hope that this will mark some progress,” Duncan said.

The next adjourned date for the PI, which is yet to start, is March 8.