Fireman murder trial continues in Berbice

Jan 13, 2015 News

The two accused Almond Hunte, left, and Sohan Busgith

The high court trial of the two men who are accused of murdering fireman, Delon Collins, who was shot dead on Saturday December 24, 2011, at Alness, Corentyne, Berbice, is continuing in the Berbice High court before Justice Brassington Reynolds and a mixed jury.
On trial for murder are Sohan Busgith, 23, of Limlair Village, Corentyne and Hallman Hunte, 37, of Alness, Corentyne, Berbice. Collins, who was 22 at the time, lived at Lot 84 Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam, Berbice.
Hunte is being represented by Attorney-at-Law, Ramesh Rajkumar, while Busgith is being represented by state appointed Attorney-at-Law Horatio Edmonson.
The state’s case is being presented by Attorney-at-Law Judith Gildarie Mursaline.
In her opening remarks, Attorney Gildarie-Mursaline stated that on the day in question at about 23:15 Collins and his fiancée, Probation and Welfare Officer Nadine Crawford, 32, and her three children had just returned from a Christmas Eve shopping spree in Rose Hall Town. Collins was driving the woman’s car PMM 6332 at the time.
They had just entered the woman’s yard at Alness, Corentyne, Berbice, when they were confronted by four men, two of whom were wearing masks and armed with firearms.
The men accosted her and demanded cash and jewelry. After relieving her of some jewelry she was wearing. The men demanded more and a bag with cash was thrown from upstairs.
The men opened fire hitting Collins in his chest before escaping with a quantity of cash and jewelry. He was pronounced DOA at the Port Mourant Hospital.

Dead fireman: Delon Collins

A post mortem examination was later done on the body of Collins by Dr. Vivekanand Brijmohan at the New Amsterdam Hospital who gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage, laceration to the heart and liver and gunshot injuries.
Busgith was identified by Crawford at an identification parade. Hunte was arrested some time later and taken to the police station where an ID parade was held and he was picked out.
During the entire day, prosecution main star witness, Nadine Crawford, gave her evidence in chief.
Led by prosecutor Ms. Mursaline the witness detailed the sequence of events from the time she left home to her arrival back home with her fiancée and kids when they were robbed and he was shot.
She was subsequently being cross examined by Defence Attorney Ramesh Rajkumar when the matter was adjourned.
The case is continuing and the prosecution is expected to call 10 witnesses.