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Williamsburg Mandir murder trial… Defence no case submission overruled calls two witnesses
The trial of the two men who are accused of murdering a watchman back in 2013 continues in the Berbice High Court. On trial for the capital offence are Shivnarine Jainarine called ‘Sammy’ or Samuel, 24, of Train Line Dam, Port Mourant Corentyne; and Ryan Persaud, called ‘K.K’, 23, of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice. They are on trial before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and a mixed jury.
The men are accused of between January 6 and January 7, 2013 of murdering security guard Jagdat Ramcharran, called “Ronald”, 61, a father of two of Bloomfield, Corentyne, Berbice. The man’s body was found bound and gagged at the Iskcon Hari Krishna Mandir at Block 6 Williamsburg, Corentyne, Berbice.
Attorney Mursalene Bacchus is representing Jainarine while attorney at Law Arudranauth Gossai is appearing for Persaud. The Prosecutor is Attorney at Law Mandel Moore.
When the matter continued Justice Sewnarine-Beharry overruled the defence no case submission and called on them for a defence.
The defence called two witnesses, Magistrate Charlene Artiga and Woman Sergeant Tyndall of the Whim Police Station.
Earlier the Prosecution had closed its case after calling three more witnesses including Woman Police Sergeant Joanne Johnson, Detective Corporal Primus Sam and former policeman Emmanuel Rajnauth. They all testified to the parts they played in the investigation.
The witnesses were all grilled by defence attorneys Bacchus and Gossai. Earlier the caution statements given by the two accused were admitted into evidence.
Three other persons also testified including the son of the deceased, Rabindra Jagdat Ramcharran; the temple Priest Seoram Terat; and a worshipper Liludhr Kishundial. In his opening address Moore told the court that Ramcharran was a watchman at the Mandir when the two men along with others broke and entered the place of worship and in the course of committing a burglary, murdered the victim. His bloody and bound body was subsequently discovered in the ransacked building.
The security guard’s body was discovered around 03:00 hrs by a worshipper who visited the temple early morning to worship. When he arrived no one came to greet him and the gate was locked.
After making several calls and getting no response, the worshipper scaled the fence and to his horror, noticed the watchman lying on the ground in a bloody state on an adjoining veranda with his hand and feet bound and the place ransacked.
A number of items, including a bell, a pair of slippers and other items, were missing and the altar was a mess.
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