Judge Peter Jamadar is scheduled to hear novel cases today. Apparently, there is a loophole in “natural life” sentences imposed on convicted murderers who have escaped the hangman.

Former Employers Consultative Association (ECA) official Godson Abraham Neptune is among 17 convicted murderers who will be challenging their life time convictions in the High Court today.

Neptune, who is in his late 70s, was convicted of killing his wife in 1985 while having “a bad cocaine trip”. His in-laws pleaded for clemency when he was found guilty when it was revealed that he was a cocaine addict.

Neptune, a soft-spoken Tobagonian, was also employed at top manufacturing plants as an industrial relations manager before joining the ECA.

Highly educated, Neptune, who has a masters degree, has been a model prisoner and has conducted classes for students.

Neptune and the other killers are challenging the commuting of their death sentences between 1996 to 2000 to the “rest of their natural life” on the basis that such a sentence is unlawful.

Last year, three convicted murderers successfully challenged the sentences and the challenges by Neptune and the other murderers- Oliver Forde, Stephen Hyman, Norbert Williams. Michael Bullock, Allan Henry, Ramesh Maharaj, Victor Baptiste, Rajendra Krishna, Felix Dean, Rasheed Mohammed, Lall Seerattan, Deolal Sukhram, Girjadat Sewpersad. Fazal Amin Khan, Rajendra Krishna and Evans Xavier- were postponed to January.

When the matter came up for hearing before Justice Nolan Bereaux it was sent to new Judge Peter Rajkumar who adjourned it to nine days in October, beginning today.

Five other prisoners are challenging the commutation of their death sentences to 75 years in jail.

Three weeks ago, two convicted murderers, who spent 28 and 30 years, respectively, behind bars, were released from prison when a check showed they had already served their time.

Four years ago, former Judge David Myers had ruled that their natural life sentences, imposed after their death sentences were commuted to life, were unlawful.

Government is to respond to C.J Archie’s hard-hitting speech tomorrow. Meanwhile, he has the backing of the Industrial Court, and, perhaps, the country.

The Industrial Court is backing Chief Justice Ivor Archie to the hilt regarding his sharp criticisms of the proposals in the draft constitution which threaten to erode the age-old independence of the judiciary.

Describing C.J. Archie’s comments as “poignant”, Industrial Court Chairman Cecil Bernard said: “Let me say I agree entirely with what the Chief Justice has to say.”

Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira told the press that the Government will respond today to some of the CJ’s concerns and this was interpreted to mean his complaints about drastic cuts in funding to the Judiciary .Archie, in a 50-minute address yesterday at the ceremonial opening of the new law term, said that the constitutional proposals contained in the new constitution “represents a reversal of the progress we have been making over the past two decades and a departure from internationally developed norms.”

These proposals were a step backwards and warned that “the danger lies in the potential to gradually and systematically strip the judiciary of its independence and the citizens of their protection through ordinary or subordinate legislation requiring no majority.”

The Tntinsider gave advance notice yesterday that CJ Archie would be addressing Government’s constitutional proposals regarding the judiciary.

More on this a bit later. ‘ .

The lawyers obtained an ex parte judgment on the matter which temporarily halted the start of the third session of the Professor Uff Commission of Enquiry into the construction industry on Monday.

Professor Uff had stated in April that witnesses and lawyers had no absolute privilege.

It would certainly be a landmark ruling not only here but throughout the Commonwealth.

Meanwhile, controversial UDECOTT chairman Calder Hart said that the organisation would be reviewing its procurement procedures.

Consultant on the troubled Brian Lara Stadium project Turner Alpha said that it was not fired but it left. Mark Cytrynowicz, project manager, blamed UDECOTT for “totally undermining” its authority on the project.

Last month, Works Minister Colm Imbert criticised Turner Alpha for some of the problems with the project which is now over budget, incomplete and heading towards expenditure of one billion dollars.

The stadium was to be completed by April 2007-in time for the World Cup cricket matches in Trinidad.

The new completion date is unknown.

The UFF Commission began hearings in January and is scheduled to complete its job by September.

The publication, under her hand, in the February 19 issue, had stated that Port of Spain attorneys-at-law William Greene and Kenneth Munroe-Browne had been suspended by the High Court from practising law.

Munroe-Browne said he was, particularly, alarmed at Petersen’s actions and was considering his next move.

As carried exclusively in the Tntinsider, Munroe-Browne has appealed the decision of High Court Judge Gregory Smith who suspended him in January for failing to pay the Law Association the required fees to practice.

Munroe-Browne, 51, a lawyer for the past 15 years, has filed 11 grounds of appeal, contending, among other things, that the judge, under Section 41 of the Legal Profession Act, had no power to suspend him.

Munroe-Browne is also contending that under the legislation and also the Civil Proceedings Rules, 1998, Part 63:1, the High Court or Disciplinary Committee Court should consist of three judges and not one judge.

He is also arguing that the judge erred in applying the rules of natural justice in that he ignored certain correspondence, did not allow him to argue his case etc.

Munroe-Browne has gone a step further and has reported the Law Association to the Commissioner of Police for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The Tntinsider understands that Greene, a veteran lawyer, has filed his appeal on similar grounds and that their challenge to the almighty Law Association has created waves in the legal community.

They are being cheered on by the sidelines by many lawyers.

The legal community is divided into cliques with the senior lawyers ruling the roost and charges of cronyism and racism fly back and forth.

Murray is charged under the Summary Offences Act but, according to legal sources, there is no specific legislation regarding the Internet.

This is a problem with many countries.

The Tntinsider will be monitoring this case and will bring the growing number of people worldwide reading our online newspaper the outcome.

The matter has been adjourned to May 17.