Accused in 2016 murder of Williamsburg man freed of charge

—state to appeal case

Two men who were charged with the murder of a Williamsburg man in 2016, were yesterday found not guilty of the murder, at the end of the High Court trial in Berbice.

Ravendra Ramnauth, also known as ‘Andy’, 31, of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne and Rocky Ramoo, 33, yesterday walked out of the High Court free men, after Justice Jo Ann Barlow upheld a no-case submission by the men’s attorney, Sasha Roberts on Monday.

The men were jointly charged with the murder of Mohan Ball, 49, whose body was found with several marks of violence in a trench in the Williamsburg backlands in December, 2016.

A post-mortem examination, which was conducted on Ball’s body, was unable to determine the cause of his death.

Ball’s sister, Raywattie Fraser, had told Stabroek News that her brother had several black and blue marks across his back and other parts of his body. She had also relayed that villagers informed her that her brother was drinking with two men, who allegedly started to beat him and “drag him on the road”.

Ramoo yesterday told Stabroek News that he knew he would be freed. He said, “Because how the case going, I know say I gone get free because I innocent…I looking forward to go on with my life because I get freedom.”

Ramnauth explained that he felt joyful to walk out the court a free man. The man, who broke into tears while speaking with Stabroek News, stated that he is looking forward to spending time with his two young children. “I just want to go out and be the person they need,” he stated.

The State was represented in the matter by attorney Mandel Moore, who called a total of 10 witnesses. Yesterday, after the judge instructed the jury to return a not guilty verdict, Moore gave notice of an intention to appeal the case.