Cutlass-in-mouth murder accused freed

Robert Abrahim was acquitted of the charge of murder after Justice Dawn Gregory upheld a no-case submission that was made by Abrahim’s attorney in the High Court yesterday.

Abrahim was on trial for the murder of Ganesh Singh, who was a labourer, on January 11, 2008, at Long Creek after he was injured to the side of his mouth with a cutlass. After Justice Gregory upheld the no-case submission, that was made by defence counsel Hukumchand, she then asked the twelve jurors to return a formal verdict of not guilty. Abrahim then thanked the judge and exited the prisoner’s dock.

Prosecutors Renita Singh and Diana Kaulesar presented the state’s case which was that the accused struck Singh with a cutlass resulting in his death.

Abrahim had told the police in his statement that he and Singh were drinking after which Singh picked up a cutlass and started lashing him on his head and back.

He said that he then went into a room where his cutlass was and “I push it to him and he rush me and so I push the cutlass at he and it bore he to the mouth.”

Justice Gregory said in her ruling that there was no evidence to disprove the defence in the case of self defence or accident and as such she upheld the no-case application.