PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Oct 28, CMC – A security officer who was acquitted on a charge of robbery with violence in April this year, has filed a lawsuit against the state after waiting nearly three decades for the case to be dealt with.
In his lawsuit, Cecil Felming, is claiming that the state maintained the charge for about 27 years and eight months without bringing the case to a timely conclusion, causing serious harm to his liberty, reputation, dignity, peace of mind and family life.
Felming is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as interest and costs.
He was charged with robbery with violence in July 1997 and was acquitted on April 2, 2025, after a judge-alone trial.
Felming, through his attorney, Kiran Panday, in his claim said the prolonged proceedings left him living under the stigma and threat of conviction for a serious criminal offence for nearly three decades.
He said the prosecution continued after the death of the virtual complainant, whose evidence was central to the case. The state had applied under the Evidence Act to have the deceased virtual complainant’s evidence admitted, but the judge rejected the application.
Felming said that by the time the application was made, there was no longer reasonable and probable cause to continue the proceedings against him.
In the lawsuit, he argues that the state failed to adequately review the strength of its case and discontinue the prosecution when it became apparent, or ought reasonably to have become apparent, that the charge could no longer be properly sustained.
He is also contending that the state knew, or ought to have recognised, that the evidential foundation of the case had materially weakened, yet continued to pursue the charge. He argues that this amounted to an oppressive use of the criminal process.
CMC/fg/ir/2026