Latest update November 14th, 2024 12:07 AM
Surveillance video tendered as evidence in Cool Square murder trial
Video recordings from a Cool Square surveillance camera were tendered as evidence on Monday, as the murder trial of Junior Bourne continued before Justice James Bovell-Drakes at the Georgetown Supreme Court.
The deceased Rawle Harding
Bourne, of Lot 687 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown is indicted for the March 2010 murder of Canada-based Guyanese, Rawle Harding.
The prosecution’s chief witness, Andre Patterson, Manager of the Cool Square, told the court that he heard an explosion and learnt that Harding was killed.
On checking the footage from the surveillance cameras, Patterson said that he recognized the two individuals who carried out the robbery.
“A fair skinned man who I can recognize if I see him again and the accused, Junior Bourne.”
Patterson told the court that the bar has been in operation for more than 16 years. On the night of the incident, two men entered the bar, posed as costumers and later proceeded to rob Harding.
The witness further identified Bourne as the person, who shot and killed Harding at the bar that night.
Attorney -at –Law, Hukumchand Parag, in cross examining the witness, asked whether he had made a mistake in identifying the accused. Patterson affirmed that he indeed recognized the accused.
The authenticity of the surveillance records was also taken into consideration, to this; the witness explained that the recording is a copy of the original recording.
Previously, State Prosecutor Natasha Backer called relatives of the deceased, Corlette Friday and Burton Harding, to the stand to give sworn evidence before the judge and jury. Both witnesses testified to identifying Harding’s body and witnessing the post mortem examination.
In her opening statement, Backer told the court that Harding, a Canada-based Guyanese was seated at Cool Square Bar, West Ruimveldt, when he was robbed and shot in the abdomen.
Harding later succumbed as a result of his injuries. Police investigators had suggested that Harding was shot while resisting the robbery.
The incident occurred around 11.20 pm, while Harding, his cousin Clarence Roberts, 56, and a taxi driver were at the bar.
Two men later entered the bar, pretending to be customers and purchased beverages. The men subsequently pulled out guns and confronted Harding and his cousin. One of them held on to a gold chain that Harding was wearing.
When Harding resisted, he was shot in the abdomen. The gunmen proceeded to rob the injured man and his associates before fleeing the scene.
Harding was later rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed while receiving medical attention. The matter will continue on Tuesday.
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