STATE of emergency (SoE) detainees Rajaee Ali and Earl Richards have signed separate public statements denying making threats against lawyers and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and claiming instead that they are being targeted to shape public opinion during the ongoing SoE.

In handwritten statements dated July 31, Ali and Richards each said they do not intend to harm any legal professionals and are open to taking lie detector tests to prove this. They are both awaiting trial for the murder of special prosecutor Dana Seetahal, SC, as well as gang charges.

Richards said, “I do not want to kill any lawyer, judge or the DPP. They shall be the people for my freedom.”