Paper committal proceedings against Police Service Social and Welfare Association president Insp Michael Seales are expected to be completed by the end of June.
Seales’ case came up for hearing in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court yesterday for the first time since embattled former chief magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar resigned last month to become a High Court judge.
Although the Judiciary announced that Ayers-Caesar would be reappointed to her post to complete unfinished cases following her resignation last week, Seales’ case would be heard before acting Chief Magistrate Maria Busby-Earle-Caddle as it did not start before Ayers-Caesar.
During yesterday’s hearing, Busby-Earle-Caddle asked State prosecutors to indicate the status of witnesses in the case.
She was informed that there were 17 witnesses but that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) still had to file and serve most of their statements to Seales’ defence attorneys. They also said that three of the witnesses would not give evidence via sworn statements and would have to attend court to testify.
Seales’ lawyer Owen Hinds Jr informed the court which of the witnesses he wished to cross-examine.
Busby-Earle-Caddle then reserved June 28 and 29 for hearings of the proceedings. After the hearings are complete, Busby-Earle-Caddle will decide whether the State had presented sufficient evidence against Seales and whether he should be eventually tried in the High Court.
Seales is accused of making the seditious statement on June 24, 2015, during a live interview on TV6 Morning Edition. He had claimed there was then an alleged plot by the People’s Partnership government to frustrate the Police Service to react in such a way that there would be a need for a state of emergency, thereby stalling the September 7 general election later that year.
Seales made the comment during the heightened wage negotiations and was suspended the following day by acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams. However he continues to serve in his position in the association.
Seales is also being represented by Pamela Elder, SC.
