Robb Street triple-murder/arson…Prosecution tender statements from 31 witnesses

Sep 14, 2016 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

Statements from 31 witnesses- including those from 11 police officers—were tendered and marked as exhibits when the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the murder of Feresa and Theresa Rozario and their father, Hilrod Thomas,

MURDER ACCUSED: Ganga Krishna and Avishkar Kissoon

continued yesterday, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The PI is being conducted by way of paper committal by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Ganga Krishna, 72, a businessman of Lot 11 North Road Bourda; and his employer, Avishkar Kissoon, 24, of Lot 1 Sheriff Street, Campbellville; are currently on remand for the capital offence.
Theresa Rozario, 15, and her 12-year-old sister, Feresa Rozario, were burnt to death after an early morning fire destroyed a Robb Street, Georgetown building they occupied with their father.
The fatality occurred in November 2014.
The two sisters, who were reportedly asleep, were trapped in the early morning inferno.
Thomas, 63, managed to jump through a window to escape the flames. He, however, sustained second and third degree burns and later succumbed while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Investigations in this matter took police two years to crack. A drug addict reportedly confessed to police that he was offered money to set fire to the disputed building. Police believe that the building was torched to drive out individuals who were also claiming ownership of the property by prescriptive rights.

Theresa Rozario, Feresa Rozario and their father Hilrod Thomas

When the matter came up yesterday, Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers indicated that the prosecution has 31 witnesses. The statements and further statements of these witnesses were tendered by the prosecutor and marked as exhibits in the PI by the Magistrate.
During the tendering of the statements, Attorney Mursalin Bacchus, who is representing Kissoon and Attorneys Glen Hanoman and Nigel Hughes–representing Ganga, made applications for two civilian witnesses to be cross-examined. These were Rosemary Rosario and Adam Rojario.
The attorney also requested three police witnesses, Detective Inspector Suraj Singh; Sergeant Phillip Bowman and Detective Sergeant Devon Lowe to also be cross-examined.
Officer in Charge, Greene who signed a statement on behalf of the Guyana Fire and Ambulance Service will also be subjected to cross-examination.
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan granted the attorneys’ request.
Further, Prosecutor Jeffers also tendered a Form C19-this is an identification parade document- in favour of Ganga. The PI has been adjourned until September 22, for the tendering of other documents and possibly for the commencement of cross-examination.
It was an emotional testimony from Clarissa Rosario, the children’s mother, which prompted the Chief Magistrate to have the PI completed by paper committal. During her testimony, the older Rozario fainted while standing in the witness box.

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