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No case submission overruled in Corentyne rape and robbery trial

May 08, 2014 News

…Defence calls two witnesses

 

The trial of Beesham Gopaul, called “Thackoor”, 27, of No 74 Village, Corentyne, who is on trial for raping and robbing a married mother of two on June 24, 2008 at No. 73 Village Corentyne, Berbice, is continuing in the Berbice High Court. The matter is being tried before Justice Brassington Reynolds and a mixed jury.
This was after defence attorney, Charlyn Artiga, had put forward a no case submission on the grounds that insufficient evidence was presented by the prosecution to prove the two offences against Gopaul.
She said that the only evidence presented was that of the virtual complainant.
She also cited the discrepancies in the evidence given by the virtual complainant and Police Detective Corporal Winston Singh.
After the submission was overruled the defence called two witnesses, including the accused, Gopaul.
The man in his evidence stated that he doesn’t have any scar on his face and that he doesn’t fit the description as stated by the virtual complainant.
Ramchand Harsawack, a relative of Gopaul, was the next witness to take the stand. He stated that on the day in question he and the accused were living at the same address.  He recalled being at home around 11:30 hrs when the accused arrived home for lunch. The alleged incident occurred around 13:30 hrs.
Earlier, State Prosecutor Attorney at Law Renita Singh closed the prosecution case because she was unable to tender the medical certificate after not being able to locate Dr. Mahase Chandra Persaud who is reportedly out of the jurisdiction.
The woman had detailed the sequence of events on the day in question, how she was accosted by the accused whom she knew for over 10 years as ‘Thackoor’.
She said that he robbed and raped her at knifepoint. When the man was finished he took her cell phone valued $30,000 and warned her not to holler. He threatened to kill if she disobeyed.
She informed her mother who along with her husband accompanied her to the police station. She was later accompanied to the Skeldon Hospital where she was examined and a Medical Certificate issued.
Later the same day she identified the accused at the Springlands Police Station.
Her mother testified to not being at home, but was later informed of the incident. Corporal Winston Singh in his testimony related to the court the part he played during the investigation.
Rural Constable Rowena Craig had told the court that she took the victim to the Skeldon and New Amsterdam Hospitals before being forced to return to Skeldon where the examination was conducted.
The policewoman stated that when she first visited the Skeldon Hospital, she was told that the doctor was at lunch.
They then travelled for more than 40 miles to the New Amsterdam Hospital only to be told that no Gynecologists were available.
The woman in answer to a question by Defence Counsel, Carolyn Artiga, stated that the doctor had instructed the victim to undergo a number of tests including pregnancy as well as for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

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