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Ex-Coast Guard ranks murder trial … Accused plead innocence as prosecution closes case
By Latoya Giles
Murdered gold miner, Dweive Kant Ramdass
The three men accused of killing 24-year-old gold miner Dweive Kant Ramdass in August 2009 all pleaded innocence yesterday when they all gave unsworn statements from the prisoners’ dock. The prosecution also closed its case.
The accused, ex-coast guard ranks, Sherwin Hart, Devon Gordon and Deon Greenidge, allegedly transported Ramdass in their boat to a location (Caiman Hole) in the river, where they relieved him of $17M in cash which he was carrying in a box to Bartica for his employer, who operated a gold and diamond business in the city, and subsequently threw him overboard. Ramdass’s body was found several days later.
Number one accused, Sherwin Hart, was the first to give his statement. According to Hart, the only reason he had signed the document the police gave to him was because he “did not want to get any more licks”. Hart told the court that as soon as he had signed the document, DSP Terrance Paul indicated to the other ranks that were allegedly beating Deon Greenidge to stop.
“After I sign the document he turn to the other police and seh we get de boss fuh sign,” Hart said.
The man continued to tell the court that he was taken to the station lockups, where he saw Devon Gordon. Hart said that Gordon was lying on the floor groaning in pain, and indicated to him (Hart) that he had been beaten by the police. He said that the next morning DSP Paul, and a party of policemen took he, Gordon and Greenidge from the Leonora Police Station to the Parika Station. Hart said that once there, they used two boats.
Hart said that it was DSP Paul who instructed the boat captain to drive to Caiman Hole. He said that while at Caiman Hole, it was DSP Paul who instructed Officer Dyal to take photographs. Hart maintained that neither he nor any of the accused pointed to anywhere. Hart told the court that they were then taken back to the Leonora station. He said that they were later charged with murder.
Hart told the court that the reason he said nothing about the abuse while in court was because he was afraid. He said that when he was taken to the Georgetown Prison he then complained. According to Hart, officials at the prison only took statements and never told him to undress. He said that it was only on August 27, 2009, that he managed to see the prison medex who prescribed pain killers.
The number one accused further told the jury that he had waited some four years to tell his side of the story. He said that he was innocent of the charge and that he knows nothing about the murder.
The number two accused Devon Gordon, like Hart, denied that he had anything to do with the killing. Gordon told the court that he was beaten by the police. He said that on August 20, 2009, he, Hart and Greenidge, left the Fort Island base to do patrol duty.
He said that on arrival at Parika, he received certain instructions, from Hart, who was the supervisor at the time. Gordon said that they searched a vessel along with the passengers. He said that nothing was found on that vessel. The accused man said that they were searching a second vessel when Hart told them to “wrap up” the search. Gordon said that while he was heading back to their boat he saw a man of mixed race approach Hart.
Gordon said that he saw Hart and the man speaking, but did not know what the conversation was about. Gordon told the court that the man was carrying a haversack. He said that they dropped the man to Hog Island, in the Essequibo River.
Gordon recounted that he saw the man walk off on Hog Island’s shore. He said that he, Hart and Greenidge then headed back to Fort Island. According to Gordon, they spent about two hours at Fort Island before returning to Parika.
He said upon arrival at Parika they saw a crowd that was unruly towards them. Gordon continued his address by telling the court that he was innocent of the charge and that he was beaten by the police.
And like his co-accused, Deon Greenidge alleges that he was beaten by the police. He said that he knew nothing about the murder and that he was innocent. He said that he never showed the police anywhere in the Essequibo River named Caiman Hole.
Also yesterday, the prosecution closed its case. It is expected that prosecutor Judith Gildharie-Mursalin will make her closing remarks after the defence calls its lone witness, who is a medex.
The trio’s lawyer, Latchmie Rahamat, informed the court that the witness will be in court today.
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