Prosecution’s case closed in Wales
murder trial
Defence begins submission on Monday
PROSECUTOR Deonine Mc Common yesterday closed the case for the
prosecution in the Wales murder trial making way for the beginning
of the defence of Gerald James called ‘Smilie’.
‘Smilie’ is facing an indictment for the killing of Wales Cinema
caretaker Khemraj Bissoondial, following a row over food on November
20, 2003.
The prosecution is contending that the accused who had begged
Bissoondial for a meal of ‘rice and curry’ which he ate heartily,
on the day in question, had gone back for a repeat, when he showed
hostility to the care-taker who had told him, “you can get curry
and bora but no rice”.
‘Smilie’ it is said then picked up a four-foot length of one-inch
iron pipe with which he began hitting the victim around the back
of his body.
After the victim held on to the iron pipe, the accused ‘Smilie’
it is said, whipped out a knife from his waist and inflicted a
wound in the left chest of the caretaker, which caused his death.
The last witness to testify for the prosecution yesterday was
Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh.
Dr Singh who performed the post mortem said that on external examination
he found an incised wound on the left side chest of the victim,
which had caused death.
According to the doctor, the wound which could have been inflicted
with a sharp cutting instrument such as a knife had penetrated
the heart area.
But under cross-examination by defence counsel Mr. Peter Hugh,
Dr. Singh agreed that the injury that caused death was also consistent
with the victim rushing toward a sharp cutting instrument.
With the permission of the court, defence lawyer Hugh asked that
the doctor be permitted to examine the iron-pipe which was an
exhibit of the court.
When the pathologist was asked if someone had hit the victim a
severe blow with the pipe, if he would expect to find marks on
the body, he answered in the affirmative, and declared that he
did not see any mark on the body of the victim.
The hearing continues on Monday when it is expected that the accused
will begin his defence with an unsworn statement from the dock.
(George Barclay - Guyana Chronicle)
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