High Court
Kenneth Benjamin has ordered a ban on the local media from substantial
reporting in the Fazal Sayed murder case. The ruling by the trial
judge on Monday came in light of an application made by defense
lawyers to get the venue moved from St. George's to the sister
isle of Carriacou due to pre-trial publicity.
The trial
judge made mention of articles published in this newspaper about
both the accused and his deceased wife, Gillian Celestine-Sayed
of La Borie, St. George's. According to Justice Benjamin, during
the trial reporters will only be allowed to report on the basics
of the case such as the name of the accused, his legal representative
and very brief information relating to the charge.
He warned
that failure to comply with the order could result in contempt
of court proceedings against violators. The court order read in
part: "Upon hearing Mr Christopher Nelson, Director of Public
Prosecutions with Ms D Lawrence appearing for the Crown and Mr
Anslem Clouden B Clouden with Cajeton Hood appearing for the Accused.
It Is Ordered
that an Order is hereby granted restraining the publishing in
any book, magazine or newspaper or broadcasting in any sound or
television broadcast or by means of any Cable or Satellite Programmed
Service, the proceedings in the matter of The Queen vs Fazal Sayed,
save and except the names of the accused, the deceased, the information
in the indictment, and the fact that the trial has commenced,
the names of the Counsel appearing in the case and the Presiding
Judge."
It is the
first time in recent years that a trial judge has resorted to
such draconian measures against the press from reporting on the
proceedings in a murder trial. Fayed is not expected to face the
death sentence due to a deal worked out between Grenada and Britain
for his return to the Spice Isle to answer charges related to
the murder of his wife.
The Indian-born
businessman was taken into custody in England enroute to India
after police discovered the body of his wife on an isolated beach
in the St. David's area.
