At Demerara Assizes…Robbery murder case will be decided on identification

-prosecutor
TOTARAM Bishundial, whose son was shot on the Hope Public Road during a $500,000 robbery/murder in 2010, yesterday, identified Shawn Thom as the gunman who opened fire after demanding a bag with money.
Thom was the number two accused but, shortly after Bishundial fingered him, counsel for the number one accused, Orin David, reminded State Prosecutor Judith Mursalin that the witness had, originally, named his client as the killer.Mursalin responded by reminding Defence Counsel Trenton Lake that the case would be decided on identification.
Totaram said he had left his home at De Hoop, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, on Friday August 20, for Georgetown, along with his cousin, Seeta, to do some shopping for his wedding on Sunday, August 22.
He was driving his burgundy surf vehicle and went to Demerara Bank, where he did a transaction by cashing a cheque for $500,000.
He placed the money into a bag and put it into his vehicle attaching it to the gear stick.
On his way home, he stopped at the Victoria gas station and, after speaking to his brother, Lakhram, by telephone, told him he was on his way.
Arriving at Hope, he saw his brother in his lorry and they spoke to each other.
Negro chap
According to the witness, as he spoke to his brother, he saw a “negro chap” coming up behind him.
He said:“The man walked up to where I was standing and pulled out a gun from his waist and said pass the bag and money. I said what bag you are talking about.”
The gunman said he would shoot and kept shouting for him to pass the bag, the witness said.
He said his brother said something and he heard an explosion when the latter was shot by the gunman.
Witness recalled that he jumped in the Hope Canal and remained under the water in order to escape injury.
Later, he saw the gunman go to “a chap” with a motorcycle and they rode off.
Witness said he was taking his brother to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and when he reached by Victoria Gas station, he saw money flying around on the road.
He also saw the man with the money bag and gun and tried to drive on the gunman but the vehicle hit a concrete basement. The man hopped into a white car and he tried to catch up with it but it was a faster vehicle and the gunman, whom he had recognized, escaped.
The witness sad he took Lakhram to the hospital but was later told that he had died.
He said subsequently, he identified the gunman at an identification parade at the Turkeyen Police Station.
The trial is continuing before Justice Franklyn Holder and a mixed Demerara Assizes jury.
Attorney-at–law Mr. George Thomas is also on the defence team.

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