DOMINIC Hadeed buried his face in the palm of his hand while his wife, Genevieve, stared straight ahead in apparent shock as the Court of Appeal ruled last night that they would remain in prison for at least the next two weeks while the State pursues its appeal to the Privy Council.The reaction came as Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh and Justices of Appeal Mark Mohammed and Ricky Rahim unanimously refused to discharge an interim stay granted on Thursday night preserving the status quo despite an earlier Court of Appeal ruling ordering the couple’s release under strict house arrest.
Genevieve Hadeed
Delivering the ruling, the judges said they were required to balance the competing consequences of either course of action.They concluded that if the Hadeeds were released and the allegations of an assassination conspiracy ultimately proved to be true, the prejudice to the public interest would outweigh the prejudice arising from their continued detention for what is expected to be a relatively short period while the Privy Council hears the State’s appeal.
LAST NIGHT’s SESSION: Attorney Gerald Ramdeen, appearing for the State, re-enters the Hall of Justice, Port of Spain, last night before the Appeal Court ruling.—Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK
