Saddam’ retrial for murder...Judge denies prosecution’s request to tender court statement

Saddam’ retrial for murder…Judge denies prosecution’s request to tender court statement

Dec 03, 2018 News

The retrial of murder accused Naresh Ramjohn called ‘Naresh Mahase’ and ‘Saddam’ is continuing in the Berbice High Court before Justice Priya Sewnarine Beharry and a mixed jury.
Ramjohn, 39 of Stanleytown and Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice is on trial for the murder of 28-year-old Anthony Samaroo, called ‘Scare Dem’ of Levi Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice, on 2nd July 2008, at Levi Dam.
When the matter continued on Wednesday, Prosecutor Mandel Moore recalled state witnesses Tajepaul Samaroo, who is presently in prison, to the witness stand. Samaroo had testified in the Magistrate’s court.
He had earlier told the court that he doesn’t know who killed his brother, but he thinks his brother was “bored up” by somebody. He denied helping to take his brother to the hospital, but saw him at the hospital subsequently. He knows the accused by pointing him out in court.
He recalled giving evidence in the magistrate’s court, but cannot remember what that evidence was or if he signed the evidence.
When he was recalled on Wednesday, he was asked if he could read and write. He was shown the previous statement and a signature. The prosecutor subsequently made an application to have the statement admitted into evidence. Strong objections were made by Defence attorney Arudranauth Gossai. This was upheld by Justice Beharry and the statement was not allowed.
Ramjohn is also being represented by attorneys Mursaline Bacchus and Surihya Sabsook.
Other witnesses called by the prosecution, included Detective Corporal Denesh Baichu and Sergeant Dexter Brandt and Government Pathologist Vivikananda Brijmohan and the deceased man’s mother Meena Persaud.Samaroo death was given as hock and haemorrhage due to multiple stab wounds.
The state’s case was that on the day in question, Ryan Samaroo was walking on Levi Dam, when he was confronted by Ramjohn. Samaroo did not respond but continued walking and noticed his brother Tajepaul. After speaking for a few minutes, they looked up the street and saw Ramjohn and his two brothers had implements in their hands.
The Samaroo brothers went home and told Anthony Samaroo what had transpired.
The brothers left and went back to Levi Dam, where they were attacked. Ryan and Tajepaul Samaroo were able to escape. Ryan was standing some distance away and saw when Ramjohn stabbed his brother and instructed his brothers ‘to ‘done he.’
The other two Samaroo siblings then ran home and told their mother what had happened. They returned to the scene where they saw Anthony Samaroo lying on the ground in a pool of blood.
He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Ramjohn was previously found guilty in 2014 and was sentenced to 55 years in jail. He appealed his conviction and sentenced, and the Guyana Court of Appeal ordered a retrial.

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