One of the most visible advocates for law and order in this country, Seetahal wrote columns for both the T&T Guardian and Trinidad Express newspapers, and she was never afraid to voice her expert opinion on whatever issue she was consulted on by the media or public.
Seetahal’s sister Susan Francois, who heads the Financial Intelligence Unit, in an interview last weekend, described her sister as very visible and in the forefront—a brave and daring soul who charted new territory.
She said, “I don’t think before she appeared on the scene as an advocate that there were many attorneys willing to speak so freely and openly to the media. It appears to me that the attack on her was really a brazen attack on the judicial system. I think it should be considered as that, because I can’t see it any other way because of all that she stood for and all that she did.”
Seetahal’s brother Kenrick echoed similar sentiments. “We were very hurt and still feel like we are lost because we don’t and are not seeing any tangible evidence from the security forces that they are working on this matter,” he said.
Referring to the day of total policing on March 23, in which police officers ‘locked down’ the country as they carried out their duties, Kenrick said, “If the police want to do their job, as was reflected last month when they locked down the whole country, we see that they have the capacity to solve matters and problems if they wish to, but it is just the will to do it that is lacking.”
Family friend Carolyn Ravello also questioned whether it was inefficiency or a lack of will by the police to solve Seetahal’s murder.
Present during the interview last weekend, Ravello said the time which has passed since the killing was now worrying, as the Police Service does not have a record of success in solving cold cases.
“If in12 months the police couldn’t come up with anything except the suggestion that a suspect was killed recently, my heart bleeds because if they didn’t act when it was warm. What are they going to do now?” she asked.
Police officials have claimed that David “Junior” Baker, who was believed to be a key suspect in Seetahal’s murder, was killed on August 19, 2014, during a shootout with members of the North Eastern Division Task Force in Freeport.
But even if the public is to believe this, Baker is just one of the players in what was a well-thought-out and well-executed hit that many feel was initiated by people of influence in society.
Ravello said it was not too late for local authorities to accept the offer from external security agencies, as we don’t have the efficiency to operate on cold cases.
Expressing a sense of frustration over the apparent lack of action by the police, Francois and her family said they all believed the police were “playing with statistics.”
Francois said, whenever questioned, officers were quick to report that crime was down. But she said the low detection rates were abysmal and reflected a certain inability by the police to tackle crime in such a way that would make citizens feel more secure.
She said, “We have tried on several occasions to speak with investigators regarding their progress on the matter and the same answer is being given to us every single time, the investigation is ongoing, it’s a complicated matter.
“This is a personal tragedy not just for me, but my entire family as well as friends and colleagues who knew her. It is very difficult to carry on normally knowing that the persons responsible, her killers, are still out there and they are probably doing the same thing to other people. It would certainly give some closure and some reassurance to know that these murderers are behind bars.”
Declining to comment about rumours relating to the reasons behind the killing, Francois said if there was any will by the police to administer justice in this instance it should be reflected by their actions, which would include a speedy conclusion to the investigation and bringing Seetahal’s killers before the court.
Raising questions about the police conduct on the night of the killing, the family wondered if there were any roadblocks set up immediately after the shooting and if not, they are demanding to know why not.
“The killers were moving around, and I am just wondering why there were no roadblocks that night in an attempt to apprehend the killers,” one relative inquired.
Claiming that she appealed to the authorities last July not to let the investigation grow cold, Francois said, “It is clear that any murder that is unresolved for a year is a cold case. We are now approaching one year and it is in fact a cold case.
“We have not been appraised of any developments, nor have we been advised that there may be certain persons of interest. We have not been told whether they are waiting on some information from someone and then they will proceed. They don¹t have to give us the information, but just inform us about the progress.”
Urging officials to put the rumour mill to rest, Francois said it was imperative that “they find not just the trigger man, but they need to find the people who are responsible, the ones who paid for it to be done. The country owes her that.”
Shedding tears as she recalled the gaping hole Seetahal’s death created in her soul, attorney Joy Balkaran had nothing but good things to say as she reflected on the times they spent together.
The two, along with Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson formed the powerhouse prosecution team in the Vindra Naipaul-Coolman trial now before the High Court. The trial began in March 2014, and the three had grown quite close during that time.
During an interview at the Hall of Justice last week, Balkaran, who has been in active practice for the past 24 years, dabbed at her tears with her fingers and said softly, “She was a guiding beacon light, we were always able to speak openly with each other.”
She smiled as she recalled, “Even when we had differences of opinions, we would be able to thrash them out...no big deal between us.”
Never one to hold a grudge, Seetahal was described as a workaholic with a tough exterior, one who often masked the hurt caused by the personal barbs deliberately fired from the opposition benches.
“This was usually the only way to get at her,” Balkaran explained, as she said no one could question Seetahal’s knowledge of the law regarding criminal practice and procedure.
Recalling when she first learnt of Seetahal’s death, Balkaran said she began screaming “why they had to do her that?”
Asked how she was coping one year later, Balkaran composed herself then answered, “I don’t think a day or night has gone by that I have been able to rest properly or didn’t think about Dana, not a day.”
Unwilling to speculate as to the reason why Seetahal was killed, Balkaran said, “That is something the police would have to assess.”
However, she sought to remind the wider population, “Each attorney has a job to do and you do that to the best of your ability. This is what we do and whatever Dana was working on or doing, it was simply her job. That is not a reason to kill somebody...that’s what attorneys do, that’s our oath, to do our job to the best of our ability. We simply present the evidence as it unfolds.
“She will always be known as a giant in this profession.”
Echoing the loss expressed by Balkaran, Peterson admitted that her killing was a shock to him and his family, as they shared a very close bond with Seetahal.
Having fought on opposite sides and alongside each other throughout her career, Peterson said Seetahal’s legal opinion was respected and highly valued by peers throughout the legal fraternity, the Police Service, and further abroad.
Pressed to speak about the police investigation which remains active, both Peterson and Balkaran agreed that answers were needed.
However, Peterson cautioned, “One may be tempted to become angry that no one has been arrested or charged with her killing. I know investigations take time and although I am anxious that her perpetrators be caught and charged, and tried and possibly convicted, I will not want the
investigators to rush to judgment.
“Notwithstanding my anxiety, I would prefer they take their time, cross all their T’s and dot all their I’s, because although we may be anxious to have persons arrested and charged, we will not want it to be just for a show but to know the best possible investigation was done.”
Peterson said as a member of the bar and as a citizen, “I have to trust the system and the Police Service to be doing their best.”
Pointing out that they needed specially trained officers to thoroughly investigate a homicide, Peterson said, “We have a problem with respect to the volume of murders and the availability of trained homicide investigators.
Acknowledging that the lingering uncertainty over why Seetahal was killed had led to a certain feeling of unease among the population and especially among the legal fraternity, Peterson said, “As an attorney, you take an oath to execute your duty without fear or favour. With Dana’s death we need to know, as it is difficult to move forward.”
If she was indeed killed for doing her job, Peterson sadly declared, “then as a society we have a problem.”
Recalling the pride Seetahal felt when she opened El Dorado Chambers on June 1, 2008, close friend, attorney David West, who worked in her chamber, said he was hurt when those very doors had to be closed in November last year.
He explained that Seetahal’s generosity continued even after her death, as the staff was given a six-month grace to decide on their future.
West later accepted the post as director of the Police Complaints Authority, Seetahal’s niece Leanna migrated, and the other attorneys sought new homes at other law firms.
Questioned about the closure, Francois admitted, “It was hard to close the chamber but she was no longer there, and she was the chamber. It’s something we had to live with. It is sad but we had to live with that as she is no longer here.”
Part Four tomorrow