Saddam freed of murder second time around

Dec 06, 2018 News

Naresh Ramjohn, called ‘Naresh Mahase’ and ‘Saddam’ of Stanleytown, and Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice, who was on a second trial for murder, on Wednesday walked out of the Berbice High Court a free man.
This was after High Court Judge Priya Sewnarine Beharry upheld the defence no case submission and directed the jury to enter a formal verdict of not guilty.
Ramjohn, 39, was on trial for the murder of 28-year-old Anthony Samaroo, called ‘Scare Dem’ of Levi Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice, on July 2, 2008, at Levi Dam. Ramjohn was represented by attorneys Arundanauth Gossai, Mursalene Bacchus and Surihya Sabsook.
The Prosecution case was presented by Attorney at law Mandel Moore.
Ramjohn was found guilty and was sentenced to 55 ½ years in jail during the first trial. He appealed the conviction and caused it to be set aside by the Guyana Court of Appeal and a new trial ordered.
Justice Beharry had earlier rejected the Prosecution effort to have the statement of star witness Ryan Samaroo admitted. Ryan Samaroo who had given evidence in the Magistrate’s Court and at the first trial had suddenly disappeared from the area.
Efforts to contact him proved futile.
Another brother, Tejpaul Samaroo, who is in the New Amsterdam Prison and had also testified in the Magistrate’s Court and at the first trial. He told the court that he doesn’t know who killed his brother and had denied helping to take his brother to the hospital.

Naresh Ramjohn

Defence Attorney Arudranauth Gossai In his no case submissions told the court that there is no evidence to link his client to the crime. He said that Prosecution witness, Brian Dhanpat, stated that he saw the incident and it was Saddam’s brothers who were seen boring the deceased.
Gossai also submitted that there was no evidence submitted that there was any prearranged plan to commit the crime.
Prosecutor Moore then made a lengthy submission.
After listening to both sides Justice Sewnarine Beharry agreed with the defence and ordered the jury to return the verdict of not guilty.
The prosecution case was that on the day in question, Ryan Samaroo was walking on Levi Dam, when he was confronted by the accused. Ryan did not respond but continued walking. Then he saw his brother Tejpaul.
After speaking for a few minutes, the two men looked up the street and saw Ramjohn and his two brothers, ‘Joe Boy’ and ‘Baboo’ who all had implements in their hands.
The Samaroo brothers went home and told another brother, Anthony Samaroo, what had transpired.
The brothers left and went back to Levi Dam, where they were attacked; Ryan and Tejpaul were able to escape. The brother hurried home and told their mother what had transpired and they immediately returned to Levi Dam where Anthony Samaroo was later found lying on the ground in a pool of blood. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The post mortem examination gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage due to multiple stab wounds.
In May 2010, Ramjohn and Ryan Samaroo, were arrested for separate matters and ended up in the same lock up. Ryan Samaroo used the opportunity to inform the police that Ramjohn was the person who had murdered his brother.
Among those testifying were Woman Police Inspector Donna Grant Fraser; Inspector Michael Newland who testified to arresting the accused, Detective Corporal Denesh Baichu and Sergeant Dexter Brandt and Government Pathologist Vivikananda Brijmohan.
The dead man’s mother, Meena Persaud, also testified.

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