ANOTHER witness testified yesterday in the murder trial of former Queen’s College Student, Neesa Gopaul. Neesa’s mother and stepfather, Bibi Shareema Gopaul and Jarvis Small, are on trial at the High Court in Georgetown for the brutal murder, which allegedly took place sometime between September 24 and October 2, 2010.

Before Justice Navindra Singh and a panel of mixed jurors, Ms. Loraine Allen, the Deputy Director at Forensic Science in Barbados, gave her testimony, via Skype.
Allen holds a Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology, and a BSc in Biology from the University of the West Indies. Additionally, she attained her Master of Science in Forensic Science from Kings University of London; and during her MSc programme, Allen specialised in the area of DNA profiling.
Apart from her academic achievements, she has testified in Courts in St. Vincent, The Turks and Caicos Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat and Guyana. She testified in both High Courts and Magistrates Courts; approximately 100 times in High Courts and 150 times in Magistrates Courts.
Allen was deemed an expert in this trial, because of her education and experience.
She briefed the Court about her duties, and also about how she matched the samples labelled ‘Bibi Gopaul’ and ‘Neesa Gopaul’.
According to Allen, the result of the DNA test showed that the sample labelled ‘Neesa Gopaul’ tested to be the biological offspring of Bibi Gopaul; the lung tissue of the deceased was also analysed, and Allen noted that the DNA remains the same, irrespective of which part of the body it was taken from.
According to Allen, in carrying out a DNA test, it is scientifically higher to test the mother, as opposed to the DNA that came from the grandfather to the child, then to the mother. Therefore, Bibi Gopaul would have given a procreative value.
She said that Superintendent Greaves delivered the samples, which included a piece of lung sample labelled ‘Neesa Gopaul’. Along with those samples were also buccal swabs obtained from the mother and sister of Neesa Gopaul.
The conclusion of the DNA test proved that the maternity was 99.98 %. The objective was to carry out a DNA relationship test to determine if the submitted tissue samples, in this instance the lung, could have originated from the biological offspring of Bibi Gopaul.
She explained that the notes she took during the observation were used to compile the DNA certificate, with her results and findings. The witness identified the DNA certificate by identifying her signature and the format. Ms. Allen said the certificate analysis was returned to the submitting agency.
As Ms. Allen was giving her testimony, Bibi Gopaul leaned her head forward and broke down in tears. She was also observed using an asthmatic pump.
Her co-accused, Jarvis ‘Barry’ Small, is being represented by attorneys-at-law Glen Hanoman, Bernard De Santos SC, Lyndon Amsterdam and Zanna Frank, while Bibi Gopaul is being represented by Attorney-at-Law, George Thomas.
The case is being presented by State Prosecutors Diana Kaulesar, Mercedes Thompson and Stacy Gooding.
The prosecution is presenting that on October 2, 2010, the headless remains of a female were discovered at a location along the Soesdkye/Linden Highway, tucked inside a suitcase that was partially submerged in a creek. A rope was wrapped around the suitcase and dumbbells were attached at one end, apparently in an effort to keep the body under water.
In addition to the body, a passport bearing the name Neesa Lalita Gopaul was also found. The teenager was reported missing just days before the discovery was made.
Subsequent to the discovery of the body, Bibi Gopaul and her ex-paramour Small, were arrested and charged for the murder.
The trial was adjourned, and will continue on Tuesday, February 24.

(By Geeta Rampersaud)