The issue of pre-trial publicity was raised by one of the attorneys for the three men charged with the murder of police corporal Anuska Eversley at the Municipal Police Station in San Fernando.
Municipal police officer Jivan “Bigs” Cooper, construction worker Kwame Arnold, 20, and scrap iron dealer Nicholas “Nico” Ramdass, 24, all of Claxton Bay also faced the charge of robbing Eversley of government issued firearms and ammunition and using violence toward her.
Master Delicia Bethelmy further read the charges of possession of 114 pistols, one revolver, six shotguns, two MPX submachine guns, 173 firearm magazines for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of 4,355 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, 30 rounds of 12-gauge ammunition and ten round so .38 ammunition to them.
Cooper was represented by attorney Keith Beckles, while attorney Krysan Rambert was duty counsel for Arnold and attorney Perusha Lord for Ramdass. The men were not called upon to plea to any of the charges.
Cooper’s attorney Keith Beckles raised the issue of pre-trail publicity and biasness toward his client. He said that after his client was arrested, he was not charged but was served with a temporary detention order under the Emergency Powers Regulations. He however said that Cooper’s picture was circulated and he was identified as being a suspect in the matter. Beckles stated that “extensive and sensational misleading publicity throughout the social media atmosphere, means that the intended jury pool, should we get there, may be prejudiced.”
He also raised issue with the length of time the prosecution requested for the file to be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Police prosecutor Reagan Ramanan said that he could not speak to what was published on social media. In relation to the submission of the file he explained its voluminosity. He earlier stated that there were 20 statement and an expect minimum of 32 statement outstanding. Ramanan further outlined the exhibits in the matter including photographs, video footage, interview notes of the accused and a Cyber Crime Unit report.
Bethelmy made the scheduling order in the matter and the men are to next face the court on October 15. They were advised that they could apply for bail through writing to the court.
Eversley was found dead at the Municipal Police Station at King’s Wharf, San Fernando on the early morning of April 19. A post mortem found that she was strangled and beaten.
