Sharing edited shooting footage could prejudice fair trial – DPP

In light of a recent video being circulated on social media in connection with the shooting incident outside the home of Head of Police Special Branch, Prem Narine, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in a release on Monday stated that the video footage forms part of the prosecution’s case in certain criminal proceedings pending at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and was disclosed to Defense Counsel in court on Friday, November 6, 2026.

Further the release added that the video footage is merely one link in an evidential chain that forms part of the prosecution’s case and therefore, to extract it in abstract, that is to say, without regard to other evidence in the file, including the statements from witnesses, that relates specifically to that footage, and subject it to public commentary, will not only prejudice a fair trial but may amount to obstructing the course of justice.

“Worse yet, in many of the publications on social media, only a small excerpt of the said extracted video footage, is being circulated, compounding the perversion of the evidence in the said ongoing criminal case,’ the statement added.

In addition, the DPP Chambers stated that the video footage comes from the camera system of the home of one of the main witnesses for the prosecution who submitted it in support of a written statement given to the police.

“In the circumstances, as Ministers of Justice, we appeal to users of the social media, to immediately cease and desist circulating and distorting partial evidence in an ongoing criminal case. While we respect people’s constitutional right to comment on important matters, evidence is a matter for the determination of the court,” Office of the DPP stated.