Prosecution closes case in trial for murder of Brazilian miner

Nov 29, 2016 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

The Prosecution has closed its case in the matter for which Mark Thompson is charged for the murder of Brazilian miner, Jose Rodriguez De Oliviera.
Thompson allegedly murdered De Oliviera on August 7, 2010 at Aranka Backdam, Cuyuni River. He is currently facing a trial before Justice James Bovell Drakes and a mixed 12-member jury at the High Court in Georgetown.
Reports indicated that the two men had apparently been drinking together at their mining camp when the disagreement occurred. De Oliviera allegedly attacked Thompson with a cutlass but was overpowered.
Thompson reportedly relieved De Oliviera of the cutlass and hacked him to death as he lay on the ground. The accused was subsequently detained. He is being represented by Attorney –at- law, Peter Hugh.
Following weeks of trial, State Prosecutor Tamieka Clarke closed her case yesterday. Earlier in the day, Clarke had called former Police Sergeant Wilfred Murray to the stand.
During his testimony, Murray told the court that he had travelled to (Melodina) at Aranka, Cuyuni River to investigate a murder which was reportedly committed there in August 2010.
The former policeman said that he was attached to the Bartica Police Station at the time. During his investigation the witness said that he spent several days in the Aranka area. There, he said he questioned several persons about the incident and they pointed out the accused, Mark Thompson.
At this point of his testimony, the witness pointed to the prisoner’s dock and identified the accused as the said Mark Thompson.
The ex-cop recalled that he had viewed the body of the deceased (De Oliviera). It was on a tarpaulin and had what appeared to be blood on it. The body, Murray told the court, was examined in the presence of Corporal Lowe, who had accompanied him to the crime scene.
According to Murray, photographic exposures were taken of the body and further investigations were conducted at the scene before the accused was detained and taken to the Bartica Police Station.
He noted that it was a two-day journey from Aranka to Bartica because of the rough terrain.
The witness recalled that they had transported the murder accused to the Bartica Police Station.
Shortly after their arrival at Bartica on August 9, 2010, the policeman said that they (the ranks) proceeded to take statements from the accused, regarding the incident.
He told the court that Thompson’s rights were read to him before the statement was taken. The witness recalled that the accused had elected Corporal Lowe to write his statement for him.
During that time, Murray noted that no bribe, inducement or force was used on the accused in order that he might give a statement to the ranks.
The witness told the court that the statement was later read over to the accused before he affixed his signature to it.
Following his evidence in chief, the witness was cross examined by Attorney Peter Hugh. Hugh had made certain submissions in the absence of the jury – in a Voir Dire. The Court is expected to make a ruling on those submissions when the case resumes next week.

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