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Precedent is set; sharing defamatory content in private group chats on instant messaging platforms such as Whatsapp is subject to litigation.

According to the case the WPC began the exchange as she sought to respond to a post by another colleague, over a police officer being charged with 4 criminal offences.

She allegedly claimed that an unnamed officer, who she referred to as “Homer Simpson” and “Humpty Dumpty”, was eager to defend wrongdoing by members of the TTPS and could not conduct a proper investigation.

She also accused the officer of committing perjury in a criminal case. 

Her male colleague, who claimed her post, targeted him, responded by accusing her of having sex with senior officers to obtain favorable postings within the division.

He also accused the female officer’s husband of being a bandit.  

Following that statement the WPC sued.

While delivering his ruling Justice Seepersad said, there is significant use of Whatsapp in this republic as a medium to transfer information and to discuss a myriad of issues and events.

He said persons may feel that there is a measure of security using such a forum, as it is marketed as a private forum.

Addressing privacy options on the platform, including disappearing messages, the judicial officer said, that sense of privacy is misguided, as even a disappearing message can be screen shot.

Justice Seepersad added that the right to express one’s views cannot be used to negatively impact the reputation of others without justification.

He explained that users of messaging platforms should therefore only post about others that which you know to be true.

Electricity power has been restored to several areas of the country following a massive blackout, which took hours to correct.

The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission says a landslide last evening pulled down a transmission tower in Rousillac.

Corporate Communications Manager, Annabelle Brasnel said earlier the fallen tower usually brings power from the Trinidad Generation Unlimited Plant in La Brea.

Ms. Brasnel said there might be a need to implement load shedding today.

This is T&TEC’s second major situation in less than 2 weeks.

On August 6^th several areas of Trinidad experienced a power outage.

The incident was the result of a fault in the systems, which affected one of the generating plants.

Two children are shot and wounded during a fatal gun attack in Morvant.

A man whose identity has not yet been released was killed in last night’s incident.

One of the children, 9-years-old was shot in the head.

The other, an 11-year-old, was shot in the leg.

This adds to the growing number of gun related crimes in the country.

With the murder tally spiraling, Acting Police Commissioner yesterday said some police officers are being called off their vacation.

Acting Commissioner Jacob said officers would also lose one day off.

He told members of the public with the heightened police surveillance there would be some inconvenience.

The crime problem is being put at the feet of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley.

Opposition MP Dinesh Rambally yesterday lamented the crime situation in the country.

There were up to last night 4 murders.

The MP for Chaguanas west said people no longer feel safe.

He was speaking at a media conference hosted by the Opposition, United National Congress yesterday.

Mr. Rambally called out the Prime Minister and his National Security Minister.

Referring to what he said was a report from the United States on this country, he then placed his focus on human trafficking saying there is failure in that area as well.

He called on the government to do better.

Police probe 3 more murders; one of the victims is a Venezuelan national.

He has been identified as Steven Hernandez.

Twenty-six-year-old Mr. Hernandez was stabbed to death at his Roystonia, Couva home during the early hours of yesterday morning.

And Carlon Sooknanan is gunned down at his Valencia home.

That incident occurred on Saturday night.

Reports say Mr. Sooknanan was at home with his girlfriend when at around 10:30pm there was a banging at the door and men shouting police.

It is said as he went outside he was greeted by a hail of bullets.

He died at the scene.

Minutes earlier, Gamal Waldron was shot dead in Morvant.

That incident occurred at 10pm.

Reports say 41-year-old Mr. Waldron was liming with a group of friends at Cottoy Trace, Chinapoo Gardens when they were approached by a group of men dressed in tactical uniform.

It is said the men opened fire hitting Mr. Waldron several times.

The police were then contacted.

It is said officers found 35 spent shells, including 10 bearing the marking TTR15.

Five, 40-calibre casings and 16, 9mm spent shells were also found.

Mr. Waldron lived at Buller Trace, Pashley Street, Laventille.

The body of a man is found wrapped in plastic in central Trinidad.

Up to news time he was not positively identified.

Reports say the discovery was made off the Caparo Brasso Valley Road, at around 10am yesterday morning.

Police are said to have received information from an anonymous informant that a body was seen on a bushy road.

They later went to the scene where the body was found.

Officers say they went 100 feet into a bushy area where they found the body wrapped in plastic.

They say the body was approximately 5 feet 8 inches in length, dark complexion

It was not possible to determine the ethnicity of the man.

There was a gold tooth to the right side of his mouth

Dr. Indalsingh visited the scene.

An ex-prisoner is shot and killed in Point Fortin.

He is identified as Randy Amoroso also called Crumpy and Movado

Reports say the incident took place at Tak Road Poit Ligore around 8:30pm on Wednesday.

Newscenter 5 understands residents heard several explosions and contacted the police.

When lawmen arrived they found the body of Mr. Amoroso lying in a pool of blood.

He was taken to the Point Fortin Area Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Investigations are continuing.

A 2^nd murder is recorded in Santa Cruz in as many days.

The latest victim has been identified as Mashama Lara.

He is the nephew of cricket legend Brian Charles Lara.

Reports say the incident took place at Mitchell Street, Cantaro Road, around 5:30pm yesterday afternoon.

Residents heard the explosions and went to investigate.

They found Mr. Lara lying in a pool of blood.

The police were then contacted.

Mr. Lara was taken to hospital where he died.

This is the 2^nd murder within a day in the Cantaro Road community.

On Wednesday 34-year-old Ryan Garraway was shot dead at his Maraj Trace, Cantaro Road, home.

He died at the scene after he was ambushed and shot.