THE Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago yesterday called for more stringent measures to be put in place to ensure the safety of prisoners and all other persons involved in the administration of justice.

The association made the call following the killing of murder accused Peter Garcia on the compound of the Rio Claro Magistrate’s Court last Monday while being escorted back to the Rio Claro Police Station next door.

President Martin Daly SC, in a press release yesterday said:

’The association views this particularly brazen killing as a frontal attack on the criminal justice system, which if not addressed with alacrity, can lead to loss of public confidence in the administration of justice and the consequent erosion of the rule of law in Trinidad and Tobago.’

The release noted that Garcia’s killing was not the first of it’s kind, reminding of past attacks on litigants, prosecutors, attorneys, magistrates and even members of the media.

’The association is aware that the implementation of a system for the remanding of accused by video-link, rather than the risky and time-consuming method now utilised of transporting prisoners to their respective courts may be considered. In light of current events, the association strongly urges the relevant authorities to redouble their efforts in order to have this new system fully operational within the shortest possible time,’ the Association said.