AFTER calling nine witnesses to support its case in the voir dire (a trial within a trial), the prosecution in the Cyon “Picture Boy” Collier double-murder trial will close its case today, and the defence will make the necessary submissions in relation to its contention.

During the substantive trial, Senior State Counsel, Mrs. Judith Gildharie-Mursalin attempted to put in evidence a caution statement which the accused is said to have made to the police, but defence attorney, Mr. Lyndon Amsterdam objected thereto on ground that the statement had not been obtained in accordance with the Judge’s Rules, and had therefore not been given freely and voluntarily.
Presiding Judge Madam Justice, Diana Insanally consequently decided to conduct a voir dire to determine admissibility of the statement, hence the jury was sent out of sight and hearing to provide for the smaller trial.
In the voir dire, the prosecution called seven witnesses, and is expected to call the last two witnesses — prison officers — this morning, after which the prosecution’s case will be closed.
Thereafter, defence counsel, Mr. Lyndon Amsterdam will begin his case.
Later, following submissions by the senior state counsel, the judge will decide on admissibility of the statement.
According to the prosecution’s case in the substantive trial, sometime within the early morning of September 23, 2006, a group of young men were playing dominoes at the Victoria Four Corner on the East Coast of Demerara. Ray Walcott, called ‘Sugar’, and his younger brother, Carl Andrews, called ‘Alo’, were standing nearby watching the game when accused Cyon Collier, called “Picture Boy”, dressed in black clothing and carrying a gun slung around his back, rode up on a motor cycle and began “gaffing” with the men, before cranking that gun and starting to shoot at them. Everyone scattered, running in different directions.
When the shooting stopped, the two brothers were found with what appeared to be bullet holes in their bodies. They were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
Later, at the substantive trial, a police witness told the jury that the accused was told by a policeman that he (the policeman) had information that the accused had murdered Ray Walcott and Carl Andrews on Saturday, September 23, 2006 at Victoria, East Coast Demerara by shooting them with an AK-47 rifle.
The trial is continuing.