In a significant legal development, a 21-year-old man accused of the August 2023 murder of a Woodbrook vendor has been discharged by the High Court after the State repeatedly failed to meet court-ordered deadlines. Alva Gibbs, a resident of Upper Lanse Mitan, Carenage, was charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of 35-year-old Ricardo Gale in Port of Spain. The incident occurred on August 18, 2023, during an altercation in which Gale was allegedly stabbed multiple times by two assailants before they fled the scene. Gale succumbed to his injuries six days later on August 24, 2023. Gibbs was arrested on September 5, 2023, following an investigation led by the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI), Region One. The case, however, took a dramatic turn when the State failed to comply with scheduling orders issued in March 2025, including a directive to file and serve all necessary documents by July 7. Despite an extension granted until November 9, the State again missed the deadline, prompting High Court Master Sarah De Silva to discharge Gibbs under Rule 5.9(5)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Rules (2023) for non-compliance. The State was represented by Makira Mendez, while Gibbs’ defense was led by Aaron Lewis and Christon J Williams of Quantum Legal. This ruling highlights the critical importance of procedural adherence in the justice system and raises questions about the State’s handling of the case.
Murder accused, 21, discharged after State fails to comply with court orders
