The well-known defense attorney, Oscar Selgado, is being held tonight in police custody after he was charged with the crime of abetment to commit murder. To our knowledge, there has never been an attorney being accused of such a serious offense, and we'll share all the details that we have been able to gather so far.
But, first we take you back to 2 months ago on May 16th. That's when we showed you the search of his Toyota Forerunner SUV, which ended up happening on Fabers Road that morning. That's when 6 police pick-ups pulled up on him and stopped his vehicle in the middle of traffic, to conduct a 20 minute search of the vehicle.
He had not be charged with anything at that time, even though reports reaching us was that he was being accused of taking out a hit on a woman. You'll remember that the very next day, Police Commissioner Chester Williams granted an interview to the press explaining that from the perspective of his investigators, Selgado was being set-up.
Well, it appears that police have gathered evidence which now leads them to believe that he did try to hire a man to kill someone.
He was arraigned late this evening, when the Magistrate's court had basically already closed off business for the day.
7News has learned that his accuser is a man by the name of Giovanni Ramirez. He gave a statement to police saying that on February 7th, , he met with Selgado with the intention of hiring him as his lawyer for firearms charge that police had brought against him. He said that Selgado agreed to represent him, but he asked for a favor. He said that Selgado asked him to kill a lady by the name of Marilyn Barnes. According to Ramirez, Selgado said that Barnes made a complaint against him to the General Legal Counsel. You'll remember this as the body that disciplines attorneys for wrong doing, if the allegations can be proven against them. According to Ramirez, Selgado said that this lady's complaint could ruin his career because the General Legal Council would disbar him.
According to Ramirez, Selgado paid him $500 that day to kill Barnes, and that this payment was to help him purchase a weapon. He said that Selgado wanted this contract killing done by the end of February 2019.
Ramirez also told police that he met with Selgado on 2 other occasions, when Selgado showed him where Barnes lives, and he also allegedly paid Ramirez another sum of $500, and yet another payment of $800.
He also provided the cops with audio visual recordings of these meetings.
It's very serious allegation, and today, he was arrested and charged with the offense. He was arraigned about an hour and a half before the start of news.
A short while ago, we got an opportunity to speak with his attorney:
Herbert Panton, Attorney
"He has been arraigned on the charge of abetment to commit murder."
Reporter
"The person who he has abetted to commit this murder is who?"
Herbert Panton, Attorney
"As you know it's quite a live issue. It's happening in real time. Like I said he asked one Geovannie Ramirez to kill Marilyn Burns. That is as much as I know at this point."
Reporter
"He appeared to who at this hour?"
Herbert Panton, Attorney
"Magistrate Sheena Pitts Anderson. Bail in the sum of $10,000."
Reporter
"Will this affect him in representing clients or being disbarred?"
Herbert Panton, Attorney
"This is a charge. Nothing has been prove at this point."
Reporter
"Who made the report?"
Herbert Panton, Attorney
"Everything is still sketchy at this point. I think until we get to the point of disclosure - as I tell you this matter just happened around 4pm this evening,"
Reporter
"To your knowledge is this the first time that an attorney has been chatged with such a serious offence?"
Herbert Panton, Attorney
"I cannot recall of any other."
He was arraigned on the charge when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitts Anderson. She did not take a plea because the offence will be tried on indictment. The Director of Public Prosecution Cheryl Lyn Vidal, who represented the Crown at the arraignment, told Senior Magistrate Anderson that her court did not have the jurisdiction to grant bail because of the nature of the offence. But Selgado's attorney, Herbert Panton submitted that the offence is one that the magistrate court can offer bail and Senior Magistrate Anderson agreed. She offered Selgado bail in the sum of $10,000 and she adjourned his case until September 17. The bail was granted on the condition that Selgado is not to interfere with the virtual complainant or any other prosecution witness; that he is not to communicate with the virtual complainant in any way; that he is not to go within 100 yards of the virtual complainant; that he not to leave the country without the permission of the court and that he is to report to Faber's Road Police Station every Monday and Friday until the matter is completed.
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