By George Barclay

MADAM Justice Priya Seunarine-Beharry yesterday overruled a defence no-case submission in the Cool Square murder case and called on the accused, Leon Duncan, called Whistle, to lead a defence.Duncan, represented by Attorney-at-law Mark Waldron, began his defence with a statement from the dock, and his counsel will begin addressing the jury on Monday.

Duncan, of Willemstaad Road, Festival City, North Ruimveldt Georgetown, maintained his innocence in a lengthy statement from the dock. The accused is facing trial for the murder of Imtiaz Roopnaraine, called ‘Bobby,’ of Mandela Avenue, Georgetown in an incident that occurred on January 24, 2013 at the Cool Square Hotel in Marigold Street, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Roopnarine was reportedly wearing expensive jewellery at the time of the incident. He was shot in the head and robbed.

In his statement from the dock, the accused admitted visiting that hotel to have sex that night, but denied shooting or robbing ‘Bobby’. He began by saying. “My name is Leon James. I am innocent of this crime. I did not kill the deceased, nor I did not rob the deceased.

“On January 23, 2013, me and my friends plan on going to the nightclub on Main Street. We were going to celebrate because we were to leave Guyana to go back to work through Suriname and French Guiana.

“The night when we went at the club, I was with my friends. There was where I met my old girlfriend, Tiana. We started talking. We bought some beers. We danced and were enjoying ourselves.”

According to the accused, He and Tiana later left the night club for Cool Square Hotel, because that hotel was cheap and nice.

Miss Stacy Goodings is prosecuting. The hearing continues on Monday, when counsel on both sides will address the jury.