Page 389 - Magistrates Conference 2019

Where any substance or thing is required to be submitted to a Government expert for
examination, analysis or report, that substance or thing can be lawfully received by any person

duly authorised by the Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Forensic Science Centre. 191

Where a duly authorised person, mentioned in subsection (2B), receives any substance or thing

he shall maintain a record stating the date on and time at which and the name and signature of
the person from whom he received the substance or thing, and the date on and time at which it

was taken and the name and signature of the Government expert who takes it from him for

examination, analysis or report. 192

Subsections (2B) and (2C) do not in any manner affect the admissibility into evidence of a

document referred to in subsection (2A). 193

In any inquest held by a Coroner any such certificate or report is likewise admissible as evidence

of the facts stated in it unless the Coroner requires the expert to be called as a witness. 194

In this section— “Government expert” means the following public officers:

(a) Senior Pathologist;

(b) Pathologist;

(c) Government Chemist;

(d) Armourer;

(e) Forensic Document Examiner;

(f) Forensic Biologist;

(g) Scientific Examiner (Motor Vehicles);

(h) a Fingerprint Technician from the Criminal Records Office;

(ha) Firearm and Toolmark Examiner;

191 Trinidad and Tobago – Evidence Act Chap. 7:02, section 19(2B)
192 Trinidad and Tobago – Evidence Act Chap. 7:02, section 19(2C)
193 Trinidad and Tobago – Evidence Act Chap. 7:02, section 19(2D)
194 Trinidad and Tobago – Evidence Act Chap. 7:02, section 19(3)
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