Police Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt yesterday closed and then reopened the prosecution’s case in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the charge against Jermain Jefford and Howard Rambharose, who were implicated in the murder of Laing Avenue taxi driver Orin David.
The prosecution hopes finally to close its case today, against Jefford and Rambharose, who were charged with killing David, on August 1, last year.
Hunt had closed his case after his witness, Police Constable Anthony Blackman had been cross-examined by the defendants’ lawyers, Paul Fung-a-Fat and Senior Counsel Stanley Moore. Hunt had told the court that Blackman was his last witness, and then made submissions that the court should find that a prima facie case had been made out against the men.
Meanwhile Jefford’s and Rambharose’s lawyers Moore and Fung-a-Fat, respectively, made no-case submissions on behalf of their clients.
Magistrate Judy Latchman then adjourned until after lunch for decision, following the submissions from both the prosecution and the defence. However, when the matter was called again, Hunt told the court that after reviewing his files, he had noticed that one witness was not fully examined, and as such, asked that the prosecution’s case be reopened by the magistrate.
Magistrate Latchman later granted permission for the reopening of the prosecution’s case for further testimony from the remaining witness. The magistrate adjourned the matter for today.
Two other men who were charged with David’s murder, Reagus Lamazon and Samuel McIntyre, were discharged by Magistrate Dylon Bess, in March. The magistrate stated that the prosecution did not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and, as a result, a prima facie case had not been established against the two men.
