Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard SC has called for restraint in public commentary surrounding the laying of criminal charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Joshua Samaroo, warning that widespread speculation and media coverage risk prejudicing the judicial process.
In a press release issued on Friday, Mr. Gaspard acknowledged that the January 20th killing of Mr. Samaroo, along with the serious wounding of his common-law wife, Kaia Sealy, and the subsequent criminal charges against her, had generated significant public interest and widespread coverage across electronic, print and social media.
He noted that much of the public commentary has been based on video footage purportedly depicting the incident, which he said had shaped public opinion on the matter.
DPP Gaspard reminded the public that criminal proceedings must be determined solely on evidence properly presented before the courts, and not by views formed through media reports or circulated footage.
He stated, “On the completion of the investigation by the TTPS and my having perused the evidence garnered, inclusive of the evidence from the Forensic Science Centre, I advised the TTPS to prefer several charges. Permit me to remind you that is not within my constitutional remit to investigate any crime; neither did I select or pick the evidentiary fruits presented to me by the TTPS. Please note that the laying of charges does not and cannot be equated with any finding of guilt. The presumption of innocence remains. Such a finding is not within my preserve. It falls within the exclusive domain of the court.”
According to the DPP, the footage prompted a criminal investigation by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), while triggering a separate investigation by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA). Mr. Gaspard confirmed that he has met and spoken with officials of the PCA as part of ongoing engagement surrounding the matter.
The DPP stressed the importance of allowing the legal process to proceed without any undue influence that could compromise the fairness of any eventual trial.
“I trust that the media, inclusive of social media, will act responsibly and with the required dose of circumspection. A failure to be guided by this warning may render the media and those involved liable to contempt proceedings, since such conduct would constitute an unwelcome interference with the due administration of justice.”