YESTERDAY, the prosecution in the septic tank murder trial urged the mixed jury at the Demerara Assizes to return guilty verdicts in relation to murder accused Ralph Tyndall, also called “Nick,” and Anthony De Paul Hope, called “Papa,” for the alleged murder of Colleen Forrester.Prosecutrix Ms. Diana Kaulesar who is conducting the case for the prosecution along with lawyers, Ms. Stacy Goodings and Ms. Shawnett Austin, replying to the defence’s address to the jury asking for a complete acquittal of the two accused, pointed out that a guilty verdict would be in keeping with the oath they had taken and the evidence led. The prosecutrix noted that the police witnesses had through circumstantial evidence proved the case for the prosecution.
According to Prosecutrix Kaulesar, the prosecution does not need to have an eye-witness to prove its case. She added, “Our case has circumstantial evidence and this type of evidence has been accepted as strong and compelling evidence in courts of law for over a century. In a circumstantial case, the jury is called upon to draw inferences,” she explained.
Speaking about the evidence of Nikita Semple, Miss Kaulesar said “Let us look at Nikita Semple. In December, 2007, Nikita Semple was 12 years old. On 26th December, 2007, the deceased Colleen Forrester and Nikita went to the Main Street Big Lime around 19:30hrs. Approximately 00:30hrs on 27th December, Colleen Forrester and Nikita Semple arrived at 55 William Street, Campbellville. Nikita and her grandmother had gone to William Street to collect her sister from the neighbour Minerva and spend the night there. On arrival, Forrester called for “Papa,” but there was no answer. Nikita, after she was told something by her grandmother, jumped the gate and went up the back stairs. After turning the lock, the back door opened and she went into the back bedroom where she saw “Nick,” who appeared to be sleeping. He, “Nick,” then called Nikita and asked her who had come with her and she told him that it was she and her grandmother. “Nick” then told her not to tell her grandmother that he was there.
In conclusion, the prosecutrix told the jury, “This ladies and gentleman was a senseless and gruesome killing. These two accused showed utter disregard for life and as if choking, sitting on her chest, lashing her in the head bursting it wasn’t enough; they disposed of the body in one of the most demeaning ways possible, by throwing it into a septic tank, a structure built to hold human waste.
“We don’t need to prove motive and Your Honour will tell you this. We don’t need to prove that Hope and Tyndall disposed of the body, that is not an element of murder but in all the circumstances, I find it rather hard to believe anyone else would have disposed of the body [which] certainly couldn’t move itself.
“The state is asking you to consider the following facts: that Colleen Forrester was alone in the house with Anthony Hope and Ralph Tyndall; that Nikita heard a scream while in the yard; that a few minutes after she was sent to the shop; that when she came back, Ralph Tyndall and Hope did not let her in for five to 10 minutes; that when she was eventually let inside, Nikita saw blood on the feet of both accused, on her [Forrester’s] towel and on the mattress, all of which could not have come from the accused.

“That Hope lied to several of his relatives about Forrester going to Trinidad.
“That Hope pointed out the wood used to lash the woman, [and which had] also tested positive for blood.
“That Hope [had] pointed out cloth that was used to clean up also tested positive for blood.
“That the post-mortem report shows evidence of lashing and injuries that could have bled a lot.
“That “Nick” and Hope were together in the house.
“And Nick never left and that because of this, they were responsible for inflicting the injuries which caused the death.
The state is asking you to infer that it was “Nick” and “Papa” who murdered Colleen Forrester at Lot 55 William Street, Campbellville.
“The state is asking you to find that neither of them have [sic] any defence or justification for their actions and the state is asking you to find them guilty of Colleen Forrester’s murder. Thank you for your patience throughout this lengthy trial.”
Justice Roxanne George will sum up the evidence to the jury today, following which she will hand over the case to them for their consideration and verdict.

By George Barclay