Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
Mother, lover go on trial for Neesa Gopaul’s murder
The High Court trial of Bibi Shareema Gopaul and Jarvis Barry Small commenced yesterday before Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed twelve-member jury. Gopaul and Small are indicted for the murder of 16-year-old Queen’s College student Neesa Gopaul.
Murdered: Neesa Gopual
The teen’s body was found at Madewini along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway tucked inside a suitcase that was partially submerged in a creek. A rope was wrapped around the body and on its other end dumbbells were attached, apparently in an effort to keep the body under water.
A family on an outing made the discovery when they became aware of an offensive smell.
Inside the suitcase, a passport (Number 0730108) bearing the name Neesa Lalita Gopaul, along with a bank card, was found. Following investigations, the teen’s mother Bibi and her then lover, Small were arrested and charged for the murder.
Small is being represented by a team of lawyers including Glenn Hanoman, Bernard De Santos SC, Lyndon Amsterdam and Zanna Frank, while Gopaul is being represented by Attorney-at-Law, George Thomas.
Yesterday State Prosecutors, Diana Kaulesar and Stacy Gooding called four witnesses to the stand.
The first witness, Ingrid Abrams, a female police officer, testified on August 21, 2009 she had been the officer in charge at the Leonora Police Station when Neesa Gopaul came to make a report of an alleged sexual assault committed against her – the allegation of sexual assault against the number one accused (Small).
Murder Accused: Bibi Shareema Gopaul
The witness told the court that she instructed another officer to take the statement from the teenager.
However under cross examination, Abrams admitted that Neesa Gopaul had subsequently recanted her statement. The office witness noted too that Small was never charged in regards to the allegation made against him by the teenager.
A second witness, Detective Constable Keisha Glasgow recounted that she had escorted the teenager and her mother to West Demerara Regional Hospital, where she was examined by a doctor. Glasgow noted that the teenager underwent the medical examination in the presence of herself and her mother. She said that the doctor then recorded his finding on a form which was provided to him. She said that she collected the form and lodged it at the Police Station. The document was showed to the witness. It was also marked as an exhibit tendered as evidence in the trial, yesterday.
Retired cop Jennifer Sumner also testified yesterday. She told the court that she had taken the statement from the teenager. Sumner said that on August, 26 2010, she was on duty at the Leonora Police Station when she was instructed to take a statement from Neesa Gopaul, who was in the company of her mother, Bibi at the time.
The woman said she took a total of three statements from the teenager. She obtained two statements from the teenager on August 26, 2010, but about a month later, she submitted a third statement where she retracted what she had originally said.
Sumner explained that the third statement was also given in the presence of the teen’s mother. Under cross examination, the witness told the court that during the interview the teen admitted to having a boyfriend, whose name and address she provided in her statement. Sumner admitted however, that never sought an audience with the girl’s boyfriend.
Murder Accused: Jarvis Barry Small
A subsequent witness, Phillip Mathews told the court he had prepared an affidavit on behalf of Bibi Gopaul with regards to the withdrawal of a police matter. The witness, who performed the duties of a Justice of the Peace and Commissioner of Oath at the time, said that he did not know what the matter was about, but he had prepared the document pro Bono, since he was asked to do so by a friend. He said that both accused and a young lady came to his home to have the document drafted and prepared.
Mathews said that he did not know who the other young lady was, but noted that he never prepared a document of withdrawal in favour of Neesa Gopaul, the issue concerned Bibi Shareema Gopaul and Jarvis Small.
The trial was then adjourned. Proceedings will resume tomorrow.
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