Attorney Valerie Neita-Robertson remembered as fierce legal 'gladiator'

By Racquel Porter 

   

Director of Public Prosecution Paula Llewellyn, KC has hailed the late Valerie Neita-Robertson, KC as a quintessential gladiator who stoutly defended her clients.

 

The 71-year-old, who had been ailing for some time, died Monday morning surrounded by family.

 

Ms. Llewellyn noted that she and Mrs. Neita-Robertson have had many a showdown in the "belly of justice" over the last 30 years. Among them was the murder case against Donald 'Zeeks' Phipps.

 

The DPP said going up against Mrs. Neita-Robertson was not a walk in the park. 

 

"My memory of her in her heyday was that she was fierce, as an advocate, fierce, passionate, feisty, formidable, as an adversary. To appear against her as a prosecutor, you had to be extremely well prepared. You had to be mentally tough. You had to be resilient. And you really had to like being an advocate in the criminal courts because she didn't suffer fools gladly, and she was what I would call the quintessential gladiator," Ms. Llewellyn recalled. 

 

She further described the well-respected defence attorney as a mentor to young counsel, a loving mother and grandmother. 

 

"The odd occasion that I would see her out of court and we spoke about our respective children, she was a very loving mother. And I have said to her in the past, Valerie, it's a pity I can't see any bit of you like this when I'm up against you in court. And the both of us would laugh, but she would say the same thing as well," said the DPP. 

 

Mrs. Neita-Robertson began her legal career as a junior to the late Anthony Spaulding and Ian Ramsey, QC.

 

With 47 years at the Bar, she has made a significant impact as a committed criminal defence attorney in the representation of her clients interests and rights at all levels of the judicial system.

 

She was appointed to the inner bar as Queen's Counsel in 2016.

 

 

The People's National Party has said it is deeply saddened by the passing of Mrs. Neita-Robertson.

 

The PNP noted that in 2019, Comrade Neita-Robertson embraced the role of Member of Parliament Caretaker for West Portland, demonstrating her enduring dedication to serving the Jamaican people.

 

It said her dedication to the party was further exemplified through her successful tenure as campaign manager for several PNP candidates including Damion Crawford in East Rural St. Andrew.

 

The party noted that Mrs. Neita-Robertson's passion for politics and steadfast belief in the founding principles of the PNP guided her distinguished career in public service.

 

In 1986, at the behest of the late Michael Manley, she began her political journey as the Councillor for the Papine Division in the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation, representing the East St. Andrew constituency.

 

Meanwhile, the Jamaica Labour Party in expressing condolences said Mrs. Valerie Neita's indelible mark on the legal profession is worthy of acknowledgement and high commendation.

 

Her fellow King's Counsel, Tom Tavares-Finson said Mrs. Neita-Robertson was committed to the law and securing justice for her clients regardless of their background or station in life.