No-case submissions by Ogle 2 murder accused
rejected
Written
by George Barclay |
Friday,
16 April 2010 02:07 |
”We
were beaten by Police to sign
statement” jury told
ONE day after two of their
partners in the Ogle 4-man murder
trial were freed on no-case
submissions, other accused
Christopher Dhanrad called Paul
Jagnandan, and Vijay Rajkumar
called ‘Eon’, were yesterday
called upon by the judge for a
defence after rejecting their
no-case submissions. The
men are indicted for unlawfully
killing taxi driver Teddy Smith on
October 24, 2004.
After ruling in the no-case
submission yesterday afternoon,
the judge told the accused in the
presence of the jury – “At the
close of the case for the
prosecution, I have been satisfied
that a case has been made out for
you to answer in relation to the
offence for which you have been
indicted”.
The
accused then elected to give
unsworn statements from the dock
to mark the beginning of their
defence.
Jagnandan, who was 17 2004, said
he is now 22. He added, “Sir, I
was beaten by the Police. I
thought I would have died. I
signed a paper and I know nothing
about the murder they are talking
about. I am innocent sir”.
Attorney-at-Law Mr. Euclin Gomes,
representing Jagnandan, told the
court that he does not intend to
call any witness in the matter and
declared that he would begin his
address to the jury this morning
Vijay Rajkumar, called ’Eon’,
said in his unsworn statement from
the dock. “I am now 22. I
was beaten by policeman Radesh
Persaud. Mr. Persaud also
bent back my finger and said he
would break it. He
took a razor blade and cut it and
said if I did not sign the paper
he will kill me. My mother
was not there. That is all Sir”.
His counsel Miss Kamini Parag also
indicated that she would not be
calling witnesses and that she
would address the jury today.
At this stage, the judge noted
that the trial was coming to an
end and hinted to the jury that it
would likely conclude today or
tomorrow.
Following
the addresses by defence counsel,
Prosecutor Mr. Ganesh Hira, who is
associated with lawyers Miss
Latchmie Rahamat and Miss
Rhondel Weever, will deliver his
final address to the jury.
Thereafter the judge will sum up
the evidence to the jury after
which he would hand over the case
to them for their consideration
and verdict.
The freed accused, Azim Khan and
Kumar Seeraj, who were discharged
on no case submissions on
Wednesday, ran from the court with
joy. They were represented
by Attorneys-at-Law, Mr.
Hukumchand and Mr. Adrian
Thompson.
The mixed jury had earlier heard
that the four accused had robbed
and killed taxi driver Teddy Smith
on the night of October 24, 2004.
This allegation was contained in
two alleged confessions or caution
statements said to be given to the
police by accused Christopher
Dhanrad and Vijay Rajkumar.
They attributed the existence of
the statement to police brutality.
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