-prosecutor says as trial resumes
Prosecution witnesses resumed testimony against the accused in the July 12, 2011 $7M Bel Air robbery yesterday, even as the special prosecutor alerted the court that one of the defendants may have fled the jurisdiction.
Chandraradha Rampersaud, Jermaine Mitchell, Aubrey Simon, Rayon Jones and Hardat Kumar are on trial for the armed robbery of Rampersaud’s daughter, Annie Ramsood, of over $7M in local and foreign currency.
Ballistic expert Detective Sergeant Eon Jackson yesterday took the stand to give evidence on his findings of the weapons used in the robbery.
The trial had been scheduled to resume on Tuesday, however, it was adjourned until yesterday as a result of Simon’s absence. He was absent again yesterday.
Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, who is presiding over the trial, told Hanoman that the law states that before a witness testifies, all the accused must be present. They also should have collected the statements of witnesses’ prior to their testimony.
Special prosecutor Glenn Hanoman, however, brought it to her attention that there were unofficial allegations that Simon has fled the jurisdiction and he requested for him to be treated as a “fugitive to the law.”
He also said that Simon had indicated prior to the beginning of the trial that he did not wish to have an attorney represent him. He added that the fact that Simon did not collect the witness’ statement is totally his own fault.
Hanoman also brought it to the court’s attention that Kumar and his mother were arrested for allegedly making death threats against Rabindranauth Seemangal, who had also been charged with the robbery before he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.
Hanoman stated Kumar admitted to the police that he did in fact make a phone call to Seemangal’s family, which feels terrified by the threats made by the two.
Kumar, in his own defence, said that he offered to present his phone to the police but they refused. He admitted that he did make phone calls but they were friendly in nature. He added that Seemangal had called him and asked that he give his wife money.
As a result of the admission, Hanoman requested that the magistrate revoke Kumar’s bail on the grounds that he tampered with witnesses in the trial. “He is trying this nonsense while he is on bail,” Hanoman said, later noting that Kumar was the one who took food to the prisons for Seemangal, who said that he was afraid that attempts were being made to poison him.
“Me and Mitchell put money together fah get Seemangal a lawyer. Why would I want to poison him like what he saying?” Kumar, however, questioned.
Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos who is also a special prosecutor in this case pleaded with the magistrate on Kumar’s behalf not to withdraw his bail. He warned Kumar not to make any phone calls during or after the trial period and the magistrate did not act on Hanoman’s request.
Meanwhile, Jackson, who is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department’s ballistics section and the firearm division for the past 17 years and is deemed as an expert in firearm ballistics, was allowed to testify.
He said on July 13, 2011, he received sealed yellow and white envelopes.
He said he opened the yellow envelope, which bore the numbers DJ-6-AD-2011 and it contained a 9mm high point semi-automatic pistol, with engraved serial number 82645.
He added that he opened the white envelope and discovered eight live rounds, two of which he discharged using the 9mm. As a result, he said he discovered that the firearm was in working condition.
Jackson then stated that he then prepared a ballistic analysis report on findings, to which he signed his name.
Later in the afternoon, Lance Corporal Jermaine Laundry gave his testimony, saying he was a witness to Simon’s caution statement to the police, in which he is reported to have told Detective Inspector Cedric Gravesande that he only drove the accused in the robbery.
The trial will continue today.
Meanwhile, before Jackson took the stand, the Chief Magistrate offered condolences to Hanoman on the passing of attorney Vic Puran, who died in a vehicle accident on Monday night. Hanoman, in response, noted that he and Puran were friends even before he became a lawyer and it was indeed a grave loss.
