Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Charles Leacock Q.C.
THE legal fraternity in Barbados and the wider region is mourning the sudden loss of this country’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Charles Leacock Q.C.
Leacock, who was in his 50s, passed away on Saturday night in the United States after undergoing surgery. Speaking to The Barbados Advocate yesterday afternoon, Attorney General, Adriel Brathwaite, expressed profound sadness at the news of his passing, describing the man he has known for over 30 years as an outstanding DPP.
“I can only extend my deepest sympathy to his wife and children. It is very sad, very sad and this country is poorer off as a result of his passing,” he said.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Minister of Transport and Works, Michael Lashley. Lashley, who practised criminal law before joining the Cabinet of Barbados, described Leacock as a fair and excellent prosecutor who was a force to be reckoned with, and he credits some of his success at the Bar to the former Kings College graduate who served as DPP for two decades.
“I did my in-service training with him, and learned so much from him. As you know I did criminal law for a number of years and he was one of the top prosecutors – a good advocate who was excellent at cross-examination. As a young defence lawyer coming out and having to come up against him, you learned a lot. He was formidable in the Appeal Courts and you had to be thoroughly prepared when he was on the other side. He was sharp. Actually, an address to the jury by Charles Leacock was a real experience, not to be missed, and many young attorneys will now miss out on seeing the type of skill he had in action. It is truly a tremendous loss to the judiciary,” he lamented.
The Guyanese-born lawyer, who served in one of the top legal posts of the State since 1997, remains the youngest person to date to be appointed to the post of Director of Public Prosecutions in this country. Leacock obtained the LL.B (Hons) degree in law from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus in 1981 and later graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School, Trinidad and Tobago in 1983 with the Certificate of Legal Education. He was admitted to the Bar in 1984. In 1993, he was awarded the LL.M degree in Criminal Justice from the University of London and was called to the Inner Bar in 2001.
Apart from his legal pursuits, Leacock was a devout Anglican and served as Chancellor of the Barbados Diocese. He leaves to mourn his wife Betty-June and two children.