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2011 drug store owner’s murder…Fingerprint expert, detective testify as PI continues
As the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the death of a renowned Robb Street drugstore owner who met his demise
Dead: Harold Rachpaul
three years ago continued at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday, a fingerprinting expert and a Detective Corporal were the State’s latest witnesses.
Orin Kevin Roberts, a bus conductor, of ‘C’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, is charged with murdering Harold Rachpaul, 84, in Georgetown, between August 18 and August 19, 2011, during the course of a robbery.
Rachpaul was reportedly found gagged and bound with electrical cord and strangled in his apartment, located behind Rachpaul’s Drug Store.
On that day, his killer had apparently forced him to open a vault which contained close to $1M in cash and phone cards before murdering him at his premises. Rachpaul had been operating the business at 75 Robb Street, Lacytown, for close to 50 years.
Despite the efforts of investigators, it was almost three years later that Roberts faced the murder charge. According to the Prosecution, it was the newly-acquired state-owned Automated Fingerprinting Identification System (FIS) that landed the accused in court.
The Preliminary Inquiry is currently before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and Roberts is being prosecuted by Corporal Bharat Mangru.
Attorney-at-Law George Thomas is currently representing the accused.
At the commencement of the PI on Monday, Rachpaul’s son, Leonard, and grandson, Vincent, were called to take the stand.
On Tuesday, security guard Ryan Kissoon, also known as “Dhal Belly” and his neighbour Ramchand Sukdeo, as well as Cadet Officer Mahadeo Singh, were called to testify.
As the PI continued yesterday, Fingerprint Expert, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rafeek Ali, and Detective Corporal Roopnarine also testified.
Upon the request of the Prosecution, Assistant Superintendent Ali will return to court to conclude his evidence. The PI is scheduled to continue today.
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