Trinidad law group calls for more protection for prosecutors after state attorney killed

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) -The  Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) has called for the urgent implementation of additional security measures for prosecutors and judicial officers following the “brutal murder” of attorney Randall Hector on Tuesday night as he left a church in the capital.

“Mr Hector’s brutal murder was perpetrated (one) day after the declaration of a state of emergency. The LATT is of the view that given the role that Mr Hector played in the administration of criminal justice in Trinidad and Tobago, there is an urgent need for the implementation of security measures for all prosecutors and judicial officers in the criminal justice system,” the LATT said in a statement.

Hector, 43, who had been attached to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for 10 years, before moving to the Office of the Attorney General and later into private practice, had still being contracted to represent the State in both criminal and civil matters.

Hector was gunnned down on Tuesday night, as he walked out of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, with his wife and two young children.

Media reports said that as Hector and his wife, among others, walked to their respective vehicles upon conclusion of the service, two vehicles pulled alongside Hector’s car and occupants opened fire on him, hitting him squarely in the chest. He was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

- Advertisement -

In its statement, the LATT condemned the murder saying that Hector was a well-respected member of the legal profession and the national community.

“Mr Hector was admitted to practice in Trinidad and Tobago in 2006. Throughout his career, he has played an integral part in the administration of the criminal justice system and was a prosecutor in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“The LATT joins with Mr Hector’s family, friends and colleagues in mourning his death and calls upon the police to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice. The alarming level of violent crime in Trinidad and Tobago, to which our citizens have been subjected for many years now, is cause for very serious concern,” it added.

Prosecutors in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) have expressed fear for their lives with the Trinidad Express newspaper reporting that the DPP, Roger Gaspard, SC, has sent an e-mail to acting Chief Justice Nolan Bereaux indicating to him that prosecutors would not be attending court today.

The paper quoted a source in the DPP’s Office as saying that some prosecutors were “not taking his (Hector’s) death lightly. Some of us may need counselling”.

“Some of us (in the DPP’s Office) are even fearful of having to prosecute some of these people. Will it be me next if I prosecute a case? But some of us don’t care and we will just do what we have to do,” a prosecutor told the Express.

Meanwhile, amid widespread speculations that Hector had been killed because he was the lawyer involved in prosecuting a man said to be a gang leader, attorneys Pamela Elder, SC, and Russell Warner,  the reputed gang leader’s lawyers, have since issued a statement seeking to clarify the facts of the case.

They said that while Hector had, in fact, prosecuted the alleged gang leader, the case against their client was discharged on September 23, 2024.

According to the attorneys Hector had brought certain matters to the attention of the DPP, and had also sought Gaspard’s position on those matters.

“The DPP was out of the jurisdiction on the date of the sufficiency hearing and Mr Hector requested some time to have the position determined by the DPP,” according to the statement.

“Mr Hector conducted that prosecution as a true minister of justice. He acted fairly, with integrity and in a manner consistent with the highest traditions of our profession,” the statement added.

 

More Stories

Guyana Government to assist sugar workers

Guyana in diplomatic talks with US over Cuban medical missions sanctions

The Government of Guyana is engaged in diplomatic discussions with the United States to address concerns over the expansion of US restrictions on Cuba’s...
Nearly six thousand people killed Haiti in 2024

IACHR expresses concern over worsening security crisis in Haiti

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has voiced grave concerns over the escalating security crisis in Haiti, citing a surge in extreme violence...
Owen James

Jamaican media mourns the passing of veteran journalist Owen James

The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of veteran journalist Owen James, hailing him as a trailblazer in...
Turks and Caicos

US warns Americans not to travel with firearms or ammo to Turks and Caicos

The U.S. Department of State has issued a forceful warning to American travelers, urging them to leave all firearms and ammunition at home when...
Barbados to host 69th CARPHA

Barbados to host 69th CARPHA Health Research Conference focused on mental health

Barbados will host the 69th Annual Health Research Conference of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) from May 7 to 9, with a...
Stuart Young

Stuart Young to be sworn in as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago on March 17

Energy Minister Stuart Young is set to be sworn in as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago on March 17, following Dr. Keith Rowley’s...
Issa Trust Foundation

Issa Trust Foundation expands neonatal training in Jamaica

From February 28 to March 14, 2025, the Issa Trust Foundation spearheaded a critical initiative to enhance neonatal care in Jamaica by providing specialized...
eGov Technology Showcase

Jamaica advances digital transformation at eGov Technology Showcase

The future of Jamaica’s digital transformation took center stage at yesterday’s eGov Jamaica Limited GOJ Digital Government Technology Showcase at the Jamaica Pegasus. The event,...
Jamaica tufton

Jamaica’s health minister: No evidence of forced labor among Cuban medical workers

Jamaica's Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has dismissed concerns that Cuban medical professionals working in Jamaica are victims of forced labor, reaffirming...
imf

IMF highlights St. Lucia’s strong economic performance

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has commended St. Lucia’s economic recovery, citing strong growth in tourism, construction, and manufacturing. In its 2024 Article IV consultation,...

Latest Articles

Skip to content