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A police officer charged with the murder of livestock farmer Vishnu Lalla in November has been permitted to pursue judicial review proceedings challenging a police decision to charge him under the Firearms Act for possession of ammunition during the 2025 state of emergency (SoE).

In an order issued on January 5, Justice Devindra Rampersad permitted Jason Beetam to proceed with claims that the charging decision by the police’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit was unlawful, ultra vires and in breach of his constitutional rights. The court also set a virtual hearing for February 26.

Beetam is seeking declarations and orders of certiorari to quash both the November 17, 2025, decision to charge him under Section 6(1) of the Firearms Act and the related complaint on oath filed in the High Court.