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Albion man accused of strangling wife freed in second trial
The 34-year-old man who was on trial in the Berbice High Court for strangling his wife back in 2013, walked out of the court a free man. This was after the mixed jury returned a verdict of not guilty of murder and not guilty of manslaughter.
I’m Free! Prabhudyal Tarchand called “Ramesh shortly after being freed yesterday.
Prabhudyal Tarchand called “Ramesh, of High Reef, Albion, Corentyne, was on trial before Justice JoAnn Barlow. He was accused of strangling his wife Geeta Devi ‘Diane’ Bissondyal, at their home on Sunday June 2nd 2013.
Attorney at law Stacy Goodings presented the state’s case while attorneys at law Mursalene Bacchus and Perry Gossai represented the accused, who was facing his second high court trial after the first had to be aborted due to allegations of jury tampering.
Justice Barlow had taken the entire morning session to sum up the evidence to the jury who subsequently retired to consider the verdict. It was just under two hours that the jury returned with their two unanimous verdicts – not guilty of murder and not guilty of manslaughter.
After the verdict was announced Tarchand stood perplexed.
“The jury has found you not guilty of murder and manslaughter. You are free to go, make use of the time to do the positive things in life that you intend to do,” the Judge told him.
The baffled accused stood mystified as he was urged to leave the court by his attorney among others. Attorney Goodings had told the court that the couple had lived together for eight years before the incident and the union had borne three children. She had told the court that on the day in question the couple got into a misunderstanding following a “third party relationship” (triangular love affair).
It was alleged that during the misunderstanding Tarchand killed Bissondyal and attempted to take his own life, but because of medical intervention he was saved. The woman’s body was discovered on a bed. She was rushed to the Port Mourant hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Tarachand was taken to the Port Mourant Hospital, before being taken to the Albion Police Station and subsequently to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he remained overnight.
Dr. Vivikanand Brijmohan had testified to conducting a post mortem examination on the body and gave the cause of death as manual strangulation.
Also testifying were the deceased woman’s sister Shakuntala Seecharran called “Vashti “, her father Indra Bissondyal and mother Khemranie Bissondyal; Detective Constable Emanuel Rajnauth who witnessed the post mortem examination; Constable Edmond Barlow who took the accused into custody; and Detective Corporal Primus Sam. Inspector Phillip Sheriff, Corporal Sherlock King and Corporal Ryan Cesar gave evidence during a voir dire.
A preliminary Inquiry was held before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh in the Albion Magistrate’s court.
During the first trial earlier in the year the matter was aborted by Justice Franklyn Holder after certain complaints were made of jury tampering.
Some jurors had complained that others were urging them to free the accused.
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