Judge to rule on no-case submissions in Better Hope murder trial

Justice Dawn Gregory is expected to rule on the no-case submissions that were made by defence counsels in the trial of Mortimer Melville and Jevon Ismond, accused of killing a former presidential guard during a robbery.

State prosecutors Diana Kaulesar and Renita Singh made their closing arguments to the court yesterday in reply to the no-case submissions that were made by defence attorneys Hookumchand and Compton Richardson on Wednesday.

If Justice Gregory upholds the no-case submissions in her ruling on Monday, then Melville and his co-accused Ismond will be freed. If she does not, then the trial will continue.

Melville, a bus conductor of 93 Prince William Street, Plaisance, and of Hadfield Street, Werk-en-Rust, and Ismond, are accused of killing Nasir Alli on August 21, 2007, during a robbery at Better Hope, East Coast.

Justice Gregory had also disallowed the caution statement of Melville and the statement of absent prosecution witness Phillis Carter, following a voir dire. She had ruled that the statement of Carter could not be admitted into evidence because she was not present to testify and the defence would not have an opportunity to cross examine her.