The police have been blocked from taking any further action against soca stars Machel Montano and Derek "Mr Slaughter" Pereira until Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson reviews the case. Slaughter went to the St. Clair Police Station twice to turn himself in, only to be told the officers were not ready.
Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul admitted to reporters at yesterday's weekly media briefing at Police Administration Headquarters, Port of Spain, that the matter was now receiving the DPP's attention.
"Warrants were issued for their arrests (Montano and Pereira) and the matter has been receiving the attention of the DPP based on issues raised. The DPP has decided to take another look at the matter," Paul said in response to questions posed by reporters.
Among the concerns raised by the defence lawyers the fact that the incident relating to the alleged assault of Joel White occurred over a year ago and no action had been taken after the investigation had been closed.
They queried the sudden decision to bring charges and want the DPP to review the file to determine the basis of the charges.
Arrest warrants had been prepared for Montano and Pereira about two weeks ago by detectives at the St Clair Police Station and Pereira following an incident which occurred on Carnival Tuesday last year involving Joel White.
Both singers are accused of assaulting White on February 28, 2006 outside a nightclub on Cipriani Boulevard.
