…….”Taken to Arouca Police Station”
By FRANCIS JOSEPH
Kaia Sealy, 24, was arrested at Piarco International Airport early on Wednesday morning as she arrived from Panama to face charges which arose out of the police-involved shooting in January.
Her arrest came despite assurances from her attorney Fayola Sandy that Sealy intended to surrender at the Tunapuna Police Station at 9 am. on Wednesday.
Sealy arrived from Panama with her mother at 1.45 am, and as soon as she left the aircraft, she was detained, processed, and taken to the Arouca Police Station
According to Sandy, Sealy’s phone was switched off shortly after the aircraft landed. She later learnt from Sealy’s mother, that police officers arrested her client immediately after she disembarked.
Sandy said Sealy’s mother reported that the officers were cordial during the arrest.
Sandy added, “They held her immediately after she exited the plane.”
She said the police did not inform her that Sealy would be arrested at the airport despite previous discussions with investigators about her return to Trinidad. Sandy said she had advised investigators of Sealy’s travel arrangements and had been told she would be allowed to leave the airport to attend a medical appointment scheduled for 6 a.m.
After that, Sealy was expected to surrender to police at the Tunapuna Police Station at 9 a.m.
After speaking to the media outside the Terminal Building at Piarco, Sandy headed to the Arouca Police Station. There, she spoke to the media again, giving an update. At that time, no warrants had yet been executed on her client. But Sandy expects at some time that Sealy would be taken to court to answer the charges.
THE CHARGES
Sealy was charged with manslaughter in relation to the death of her boyfriend, Joshua Samaroo, 31 on January 20 in St Augustine. She also faces three charges of shooting with intent to cause grievous bodily harm against police officers, along with other related offences.
The charges followed a police investigation into the January 20 incident in which Samaroo was fatally shot by police following a chase from Maloney to St Augustine.
Police have alleged that Sealy fired at officers during the incident. That allegation has been denied by Sealy.
The decision to charge Sealy followed legal advice from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC.
There have been several demonstrations in relation to the decision to charge Sealy. In Port-of-Spain, three persons were arrested and charged. So far, the demonstrators have held 18 demonstrations. They plan another on Friday during the Labour Day celebrations in Fyzabad.
