Pathologist goes to U.S. where son died under dire circumstances
Government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh, who was expected to testify at the KFC murder trial yesterday had to leave the country hurriedly following a report that his son was shot and killed under dire circumstances in the United States.

Because the doctor who is the last witness to be called for the prosecution will not be returning home before September 8, Presiding Judge James Bovell-Drakes, granted Prosecutor Prethima Kissoon an adjournment of the trial to September 9, 2009.

Judge Bovell-Drakes did not think that the doctor needed to be present since the post mortem report, an exhibit in the case, was set out quite clearly, and could have been tendered by a police witness.

But Kissoon assured the judge that Dr Nehaul Singh’s evidence is vital to the prosecution’s case, and the explanation of his analysis would be able to proffer to the Court the trajectory of the bullets.

And the prosecutor, in support of her application, had cited a decided case for the judge’s consideration.

The judge granted the adjournment.

The accused David Chesney, a security guard attached to KFC on Water Street, is on trial for manslaughter for unlawfully killing a robber named O’Neil Chesney.

Chesney reportedly had snatched a roll of banknotes from a cambio dealer and rushed into the KFC in a bid to escape when he was arrested and handcuffed by the accused.

It was further stated that after the handcuffs were placed on the accused, he struggled to free himself when he was shot by the accused.

The accused had denied this.

The Prosecution, acknowledging that certain aspects of the evidence were not forthcoming, had asked the judge for leave to lead additional evidence.

After deliberating on the application, Judge Bovell-Drakes granted it to the Prosecutor yesterday morning.

A witness who is a cashier at KFC was expected to provide missing links in the prosecution’s case, but claimed that she didn’t see anything.

Another witness, Cpl 18680 Mark Smith, testified that he is attached to the Special Branch and that he had identified the body of his dead cousin to Dr Nehaul Singh.

Under cross-examination by Defence Counsel Mr. Vidyanand Persaud, the witness admitted being trained in the use of firearms and declared that there was a distinct rule which stated when and when not to shoot.