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Picture boy murder trial
– Neighbour testifies to witnessing crime
A witness testifying in the matter for which Cyon Collier, called ‘Picture Boy’ has been charged with the
Cyon Collier called “Picture Boy”
murder of Non Pareil businessman Chandrapaul Persaud, told the court yesterday that she recalled seeing gunmen fleeing the yard of the victim moments after the shooting had occurred.
Persaud, also known as ‘Ravin’ and ‘Kero man’ was said to be shot and killed outside his residence by one of three bandits during a robbery. The businessman operated a wholesale/retail outlet from his home at Non Pareil selling household, haberdashery and other items including, gas and kerosene hence his alias.
The gunmen, who entered Persaud’s premises in September 2006, also robbed his family of cash and jewellery before driving off with his car. The accused was later identified as one of the three perpetrators of the crime.
The accused is facing a second trial in the High Court before Justice Dawn Gregory and a mixed jury after his last trial ended in a deadlock when the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict.
State witness, Lilowattie Dhanraj, told the court yesterday that she witnessed the crime from a window of her house, which is situated next door to the businessman. She said that she heard someone yell “thief thief!” before she witnessed the crime. The woman said that she saw one of the men pointing a gun at her neighbour.
The woman recalled that she was standing in the upper flat of her house, peering through a window when she saw the gunman pointing a gun at her neighhbour who was standing in his verandah. The woman said that she then heard loud noise, “bang”, three times.
The witness said that there were two other men. She said that the men subsequently left in the motorcar which was owned by her neighbour. The woman said that she ran out on the road where she saw the injured man lying on the ground.
Chandrapual Persaud called “Keroman”
However, under cross examination by the defence, the witness admitted that she might not have mentioned the other two persons while giving evidence in the Magistrates’ Court, since she was focusing on the man who had the gun. She later admitted that she did not identify any of the men during the investigations.
Earlier in the trial, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Michael Kingston, told the court that acting on information received, he and a group of other law enforcement officers went to the house located at Lot 33 Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara, where they cautioned and arrested Collier.
The policeman recounted that the accused took them to a bedroom of the one-storey house where a number of firearms, including an AK -47 assault rifle, were found.
The policeman said that the AK 47 and 13 rounds of matching ammunition in a magazine were found under the bed; a .25 Astra pistol with matching rounds and a 12 gauge shotgun and cartridge were also found in the bedroom.
Kingston said that he sealed and packaged the weapons which were collected from the house at Bachelor’s Adventure. He also said that several markings were placed on the gun which was later lodged at the police station.
Yesterday, Defence Counsel, Lyndon Amsterdam, continued his cross examination of the witness in regards to the markings on the gun. Kingston had previously told the court that the accused had carved his initials on the gun, but could not recall the amount of time it took him to do so.
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