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Mash Day murder trial…Accused denied knowledge of killing
– Police witnesses
Police witnesses testifying in the trial of the duo implicated in the mob killing of Enterprise, East Coast
Dead: Kumar Mohabir
Demerara businessman, Kumar Mohabir, told the court yesterday that murder accused Devon Thomas had denied the allegation that he had been among a group of persons who inflicted fatal wounds to the businessman.
Mohabir, called “Duksy” and “Fire Link” of Lot 7 Fernandes Street, Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was attacked and brutally stabbed by a group of men on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, on February 23, 2013.
The man, who operated a tent rental business out of his home, was attacked after he went to the location to collect a tent which he rented to his neighbours for the Mashramani celebrations. He was reportedly attacked by a group of persons who were intoxicated and armed with broken bottles. The businessman’s older brother Navindra Mohabir was also wounded in the attack. He was treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, (GPHC).
Mohabir was however taken to the Woodlands Hospital for treatment but he subsequently died. Following the incident, Devon Thomas and Randy Isaac were charged jointly for the murder.
The two men are appearing before Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed 12-member jury at the High Court in Georgetown. They are being represented by Attorneys- at-Law Latchmie Rahamat and Peter Hugh. The case is being presented by State Prosecutors, Stacy Gooding and Diana Kaulesar. The trial began on Monday.
The accused returned to the courtroom yesterday, decked in long black pants, long-sleeved shirts, ties and white Muslim headdresses. Both men were seen clutching tightly to copies of the Quran throughout the proceeding.
Thomas’ brother-in-law, Hardatt Rajkumar took the stand yesterday. He recounted that on February 23, 2013, the accused came to his residence late at night seeking assistance to be taken to the hospital. The man recalled he noticed a scar above Thomas’ left eye and it was bleeding. The witness said that he opted to drive Thomas to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit at Woodlands Hospital for treatment but when they arrived there they realised that they did not have enough money to pay the medical bill. He said that they therefore went to A&E of GPHC but it was too crowded.
The witness said that he therefore decided to return home for more money and then they returned to the Woodlands Hospital where the accused was treated for his injury. The man said that they later left the hospital and returned home. He said that the accused never asked him to take him to the police station to lodge any report.
The witness told the court that a few days later he was taken to a police station and questioned about a murder. Rajkumar said that he was also placed on identification parade.
Under cross-examination by Attorney at Law, Latchmie Rahamat, Rajkumar told the court that while at the Woodlands Hospital, no one identified Thomas as one of the persons involved in the stabbing on Mash night.
In his evidence, Officer Boodnarine Persaud told the court that he had conducted an Identification Parade, which included Thomas at the Kitty Police Station. He recalled that the brother of the deceased (Navindra), attended the ID parade, and positively identified Thomas as one of the persons who stabbed Mohabir.
Officer Persaud said that Thomas was subsequently brought before him. He said that the accused was told of the allegation, but he denied knowledge of the crime.
Meanwhile, Detective Corporal Winston Singh told the court that in February 2013 he was attached to the Alberttown Police Station. He said that it was relative to a report of murder committed on Kumar Mohabir and attempted murder committed on Navindra Mohabir, (the brother of the deceased) that he contacted Thomas, the number one accused.
The officer said that after he cautioned and put the allegations to Thomas, he responded with the words “Officer I ain’t kill nobody.” Singh said that he subsequently told the accused that he could give a written statement with regard to the matter, but he refused.
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