| And we also asked the Police Minister about the trial against Elmer Nah. The Ramnarace family has issued a statement where they expressed their concerns with comments made by attorneys. The family says that attorney Richard "Dickie" Bradley had alluded to some unspecified party, which he refers to as "they" not wanting to enhance the video. They say it cannot refer to their family because they are not opposed to the video being enhanced.
In addition, the family says that Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith has stated that the defense has been trying to get access to what he refers to as "crucial matters" from the crown but that they have not been successful. The family's statement says that they are appealing to the DPP's office to provide these documents.
However, the DPP's office is not involved in this case since Cheryl Lynn Vidal had to recuse herself due to her relation through marriage to Nah. As such, a special prosecutor has been appointed. We asked Musa about the issues the victims' family has raised.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I've seen comments from the attorneys that are handling this particular matter, in particular, the defense attorneys. And I have to say that I'm a bit surprised by some of the commentary that these senior counsels are making in the media, because it is almost as though they're having they're attempting to have a trial by media in order to sway public opinion on the defendant in this particular case. But as far as I'm aware, there is no hold up. It's the normal, course of disclosure that is taking place. As you rightly pointed out, this is a private special prosecutor that is handling this matter, not the DPP office. And so I have not seen this statement by the Ramnarace family, but I will certainly, task, or request rather from our ministry, from our CEO, to reach out to the Attorney General's ministry to see where exactly this particular prosecution is at. But it is in the normal discourse of disclosure, normal course of disclosure that this is taking place. So I don't understand why they feel the need to have a trial by media."
Courtney Menzies:
"I don't believe the special prosecutor's bill was passed in the House. How does this affect the special prosecutor in this case?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"If I understand correctly, that he has received a writ from the DPP, and if you receive a writ from the DPP, then you're allowed to prosecute the case."
The trial is still at the case management stage.
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