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2011 drug store owner’s murder…Defense counsel grills police witness over fingerprint precision
Police witness Salish Roopnarine was subjected to a series of questions in relation to his role in the investigations into the murder of 84 year -old drug store owner, Harold Rachpaul.
Murdered:
Harold Rachpaul
Rachpaul was found gagged, bound with an electrical cord and strangled in his apartment located behind his business, Rachpaul’s Drug Store, on Robb Street Georgetown.
The incident occurred sometime between August 18 and August 19, 2011, during the course of a robbery. On that day Rachpaul’s killer had apparently forced him to open a vault which contained a large sum of cash, phone cards and other documents before murdering him on his premises. Rachpaul had been operating the business at 75 Robb Street, Lacytown, for close to 50 years.
Orvin Roberts, a minibus conductor, of ‘C’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was subsequently arrested for the murder and is presently on trial before Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed jury.
At the continuation of the trial yesterday, Detective Roopnarine recalled obtaining and processing fingerprints from the accused in the investigation relative to the murder of the elderly businessman. He was subjected to a series of questions regarding the accuracy and precision of the fingerprints he purportedly obtained from the accused.
The witness recalled that before taking a statement from the accused, he cautioned and told him about the allegation.
The police witness told the court that Roberts had responded, “Me ain’t feel like answering anything now!” He said that he subsequently took the fingerprints of the accused.
The document, (fingerprint sheet) was also presented as part of the evidence in the trial.
However, under cross -examination by Defense Counsel Nigel Hughes, the witness admitted that he is not attached to the Fingerprint Branch of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Following careful examination of fingerprint sheet, the attorney also pointed out to the policeman that there are double markings and distortions with the fingerprints on the document. Hughes also noted that the prints on the sheets appeared much larger than his clients’ fingers.
Through a series of demonstrations, Hughes challenged the likelihood of the giant prints belonging to his client.
“It appears so” and “yes sir” were the only words uttered by the policeman, in response to the questions. Roopnarine was then reexamined by State Counsel Narissa Leander. The detective could not give an explanation for the distorted (double) prints. The policeman however noted that in process of taking the prints and rolling the finger on the sheet from side to side, it would appear larger that a person’s actual finger.
Roopnarine’s testimony was followed by that of Lance Corporal Desmond Johnny. Johnny told the court that he was a part of the investigations; he took photographic exposures, and collected fingerprints and other evidential material from the crime scene. Johnny also collected a blue handle nipper from the scene of the crime. The nipper, along with several photographs taken at the crime scene, was also tendered as part of the evidence.
On Monday, the victim’s son Leonard Rachpaul provided the court with his portion of evidence. Rachpaul currently operates the Robb Street business which was once run by his father.
He told the court that a Transport (Deed of Title) was among the items stolen from the Robb Street premises. He recalled that on the night of August 18, he secured his father’s Robb Street residence and business before leaving for his place of abode. Rachpaul said that his father instructed him to lock up the German Shepherd canine, “Jesse”, before leaving and he did so. He related that he locked up the dog, but left two smaller dogs in the yard.
The man said that he returned to the premises around 8:00 am the following day and noticed the German Shepherd was in her kennel.
Rachpaul said that he later made the gruesome discovery of his father who was found wrapped up like a mummy with a sheet and a cord wrapped around him. The witness said though that his son was the first to enter the premises and make the discovery.
Rachpaul recalled that he was closing the gate behind when he turned around and his son (Vincent) came back running towards him saying, come see what happen to grandfather. Rachpaul said that not only was his father bound, he had a black and blue mark to the head.
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