THE estate of Akili Charles, the man whose constitutional challenge transformed bail law in Trinidad and Tobago, has been awarded more than $1 million in damages for breaches of his fundamental rights.

In a judgment delivered last week, Master Sherlanne Pierre assessed compensation in favour of Charles’ estate after both the Court of Appeal and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ruled the statutory denial of bail for murder was unconstitutional.

Charles’ mother, Melina Charles, was substituted as the legal personal representative of his estate by order of the Privy Council on August 31, 2022, after he was murdered before the assessment of damages could be heard.