Businesswoman still missing: 13 in court charged with Vindra’s murder.
By Francis Joseph
Trinidad and Tobago Guardian | 6 Nov 2009

For the first time in the Port-of-Spain High Court 13 men were packed into a small dock, charged with the murder of businesswoman, Vindra Naipaul-Coolman. Although the woman is still missing, the case was called for the first time in the High Court yesterday. It was a status-hearing before Justice Malcolm Holdip in the First Criminal Court, but the defence was not ready. The 13 accused arrived at the Hall of Justice under heavy police escort and with sirens blaring. When they did appear in the dock they could barely fit. None of the policemen assigned to the court could have sat into the dock. The 13 accused were literally rubbing shoulders with each other.

Because it was a status-hearing, the court was virtually empty. Several relatives of the accused stood outside the courtroom, anxious to get the all clear to go into the courtroom. But it never came. They remained in the foyer of the building, until the case was adjourned. Inside the courtroom, security was tight. Attorney Jeron Joseph represented the State, but the defence were missing their representatives. The judge asked the accused for their representatives, but eight of them had no lawyers. They indicated that they applied for legal aid, but had so far gotten no response.

At the Hall of Justice, there was a strong rumour the Board of the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority had expired, so the appointments of defence attorneys could be delayed. But chairman of the board, Gilbert Peterson SC, said that was not true. He said the board expired at midnight on Wednesday, but he was assured by the secretary of the board, that the new instruments were being prepared by the ministry. Peterson said he knew for sure lawyers for three of the accused had been appointed and had collected their bulky depositions.
The matter was adjourned to January 7, 2010, for another case management conference.

There are 63 witnesses in this trial, which may last several months. Among the witnesses are foreign experts. Naipaul-Coolman, 51, chief executive officer of Xtra Foods Ltd, was snatched from her home at Lange Park, Chaguanas, on December 19, 2006. The kidnappers demanded a $3 million ransom for her safe release but she was never released. Despite searches throughout the country, including Diego Martin, Naipaul-Coolman was never found. No ransom was ever paid. She was the wife of University of Trinidad and Tobago lecturer, Rennie Coolman.