Murder Accused Can Now Apply For Bail

Bail can be considered and granted by courts for persons accused of murder in Trinidad and Tobago. In a ruling delivered on Thursday, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council dismissed the appeal brought by the Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago. A press release from the Office of the Attorney General noted that the Privy Council upheld and agreed with our local Court of Appeal’s recent decision that persons accused of murder are entitled to apply for bail. This ruling has determined that the provisions contained in Section 5(1) and the First Schedule of the Bail Act, 1994 are not existing law so as to be saved from constitutional challenge and is not reasonably justifiable under the Constitution. The ruling stems from a lawsuit brought against the Attorney General by Akili Charles challenging the Bail Act.