The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has dismissed an appeal by Baggio Kristidi Daniel, confirming his murder conviction in Barbados and upholding his 28-year prison sentence.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, July 24, 2026, in Baggio Kristidi Daniel v The State [2026] CCJ 9 (AJ) BB, a press release shared that the region’s highest court rejected arguments that Mr Daniel’s trial had been unfair and found no reason to overturn the conviction or sentence.
Daniel was convicted in 2019 for the fatal shooting of Alex Romel Samuel, which occurred on a public minibus in Barbados. The conviction was based on evidence from eyewitnesses and an oral confession Daniel gave to police while he was in custody.
After his appeal was dismissed by the Barbados Court of Appeal, Daniel took the matter to the CCJ. He argued that his constitutional right to consult an attorney had been breached, that the trial judge failed to properly address that issue, and that the jury was incorrectly allowed to decide whether his confession should be admitted as evidence.
He also claimed that the trial judge failed to provide appropriate guidance regarding the reliability of some of the evidence presented during the case.
However, in a judgment delivered by Justice Bulkan, with CCJ President Justice Anderson and Justices Rajnauth-Lee, Jamadar and Ononaiwu agreeing, the Court dismissed each of Daniel’s arguments.
The CCJ found that while the trial judge did not make a direct ruling on the alleged violation of the right to legal counsel, the record showed that she had effectively determined that no breach occurred. By accepting the evidence provided by police officers, the judge rejected Daniel’s claim that he had been prevented from accessing an attorney.
The Court also ruled that the trial judge did not improperly leave the question of the confession’s admissibility to the jury. The judge had already determined that the confession could be admitted, and her instructions were intended to help jurors assess whether the statement was reliable.
The CCJ reiterated that juries must disregard confessions obtained through oppression or violations of fundamental rights, even if they believe the statements may be truthful.
The Court further found that the case did not require a special warning about the reliability of the evidence under previous CCJ legal principles. It noted that the trial judge had properly cautioned the jury about possible concerns surrounding certain evidence.
While highlighting that access to legal counsel remains an essential protection in criminal proceedings, the CCJ concluded that Daniel’s rights were not breached in this case.
The Court also pointed to the strength of the evidence presented at trial. Although no witness directly observed the shooting, the combined testimony of several eyewitnesses and other supporting evidence provided sufficient grounds for the jury’s decision.
With no errors identified that affected the fairness of the trial, the CCJ dismissed the appeal and confirmed both the conviction and sentence.
According to the release, the case was heard by CCJ President the Honourable Mr Justice Anderson and Justices Rajnauth-Lee, Jamadar, Ononaiwu and Bulkan. Mr Marlon Markland Gordon represented the appellant, while Ms Krystal C. Delaney and Mr Neville Watson appeared for the respondent.
The full judgment is available through the Caribbean Court of Justice website at www.ccj.org.
