Alvin de Coteau (Appellant) v Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago (Respondent) (Trinidad and Tobago)

Case summary

Case ID

JCPC/2025/0120

Jurisdiction

Trinidad and Tobago

Parties

Appellant(s)

Alvin De Coteau

Respondent(s)

The Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago

Issue

Did the trial judge and/or the Court of Appeal err in respect of the appellant’s claim for continued (unlawful) detention? Did the Court of Appeal err in finding that the trial judge had made no material error of law in rejecting the appellant’s claim for assault and battery?

Facts

The appellant, Mr Alvin de Coteau, was arrested and charged for the possession of a dangerous drug contrary to section 5(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act. The respondent alleged that cocaine was found in Mr de Coteau’s possession when he was searched by two police officers on 17 May 2013. The charge was subsequently dismissed for want of prosecution on 15 January 2015. However, the appellant contended that the charge against him was fabricated and that he had been slapped and beaten by the police on the night of his arrest. He therefore brought a claim for assault, battery, unlawful imprisonment and malicious prosecution against the respondent. The appellant’s claim was rejected by the trial judge, who preferred the evidence of the respondent’s witnesses over the appellant’s evidence. On appeal, the Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago (“CA”) dismissed the appellant’s appeal. The appellant now seeks to appeal to the JCPC.

Date of issue

1 December 2025

Case origin

Appeal As of Right

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