Commonwealth Caribbean Criminal Practice and Procedure

The fifth edition of this best-selling book has been thoroughly revised to take into account recent developments in the law in criminal practice and procedure across the region. As the only textbook to explore criminal practice and procedure as it relates to the Commonwealth Caribbean, the book clarifies the state law in each of 11 jurisdictions, while at the same time making it clear when laws are the same or similar and highlighting where differences among jurisdictions occur.

Both statute law and common law are examined in the relevant jurisdictions, which include Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica and Grenada amongst others. The impact of statutory changes in the laws are analysed, as well as recent developments in the common law. Throughout the text the statutory law in the Commonwealth Caribbean is compared with similar English legislation, in light of the analysis of such legislation in English case law.

This book is the recommended textbook for all professional law schools in the Commonwealth Caribbean and is used at regional universities as a reference book for criminal justice students. In addition, as the only book that deals specifically with criminal practice and procedure in the regions, it has proved a valuable reference tool for legal practitioners, judicial officers and police officers.

Dana S. Seetahal SC was an attorney at law of over 30 years’ experience. She was a private

practitioner who appeared for both the defence and the State. She was also a public prosecutor

for several years and a senior lecturer at the Hugh Wooding Law School, Trinidad and Tobago

for 12 years. She held a Master of Science in Criminology from Florida State University and was

a Fulbright scholar. Ms Seetahal wrote widely and presented numerous papers on criminal

justice and related areas. She acted as a criminal justice consultant to governments across the

region and various international bodies. Ms Seetahal was for eight years an independent senator

in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. In January 2006 she was appointed Senior Counsel.

Tragically Dana Seetahal was murdered in May 2014 at Woodbrook, Trinidad. Her untimely

passing left relatives, friends and the legal fraternity in a state of shock at the callousness of her

assassination. In 2011, when I, Roger Ramgoolam, assumed the post of Course Director of

Criminal Practice and Procedure at the Hugh Wooding Law School, St Augustine, I quickly

discovered that this excellent textbook, which was the backbone of the course, would serve as a

valuable guide for both students and practitioners of criminal law. Subsequent to my appointment,

Ms Seetahal released a revised fourth edition to the text that kept abreast of the latest

developments in the law. I consider myself fortunate to have been asked by the publishers of the

previous editions to do the honour of working on a new fifth edition of this text. It is my hope that

the various updates I have inserted into the text will further enhance the quality of the text and

ensure its continued status as an indispensable reference for all persons in the legal fraternity.

Roger Ramgoolam is the course director for Criminal Practice and Procedure at Hugh Wooding Law School. He is an experienced practitioner and has served as state counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, San Fernando, as well as in the capacity of Magistrate for the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago.