Legal firestorm erupts over charges against MV Barima captain, crew members

What this source establishes

This is the single most complete compilation of the legal reaction to the charges and carries three voices the archive does not hold: David Patterson, Paul Slowe, and an extended Darren Wade statement. AFC interim leader David Patterson: "For the Director of Public Prosecutions to recommend a murder charge, she must have received information that strongly suggests the goods superintendent deliberately overloaded the vessel and knew his actions could lead to the deaths of the passengers. What evidence do the police

Key claims

• This is the single most complete compilation of the legal reaction to the charges and carries three voices the archive does not hold: David Patterson, Paul Slowe, and an extended Darren Wade statement.
• [ALLEGATION — a claim about the three accused, none of whom has been tried] AFC interim leader David Patterson: "For the Director of Public Prosecutions to recommend a murder charge, she must have received information that strongly suggests the goods superintendent deliberately overloaded the vessel and knew his actions could lead to the deaths of the passengers. What evidence do the police have that proves the vessel was overloaded, especially when Edghill publicly stated that it was not?" This is Patterson's inference about the prosecution's case, not a finding.
• Defence attorney Dexter Todd: "The police have done what the commission of inquiry is supposed to do and they have already come to a definitive conclusion on this matter"; he has "requested early disclosure of the prosecution's evidence."
• [SINGLE SOURCE] Todd raises sub judice as a barrier to the COI: "if a matter is before one court, then not even a commission can look into the affairs of that matter. So, there are going to be barriers to the extent that the commission can dive into things."
• Darren Wade: "Make no mistake: these murder charges are legally nonsensical. They are an insult to the criminal law, an affront to justice, and a disservice to the families who deserve genuine accountability."
• Wade on scope: "Is the institution of murder charges having the effect of shielding senior officials from closer scrutiny by focusing public attention almost exclusively on the Captain and crew? That is a question the Guyanese people are entitled to ask."
• [SINGLE SOURCE] Former Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe: "It begs the question: what is the position with the ministers with oversight responsibilities?"
• APNU's Dr Terrence Campbell calls the charges "scapegoating": "The captain and crew charged had malice aforethought? Really? Even against themselves?"

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