Prosecution seeking to lead additional evidence
JUSTICE Brassington Reynolds is continuing a voir dire (a trial within a trial) to determine a question of law as to whether the prosecution is entitled to lead additional evidence at the trial.

The novel application is being made by Leading Prosecutor Mr. Ganesh Hira who, in association with Miss Latchmie Rahamat and Miss Rhondel Weever of the D.P.P. Chambers, is appearing for the Prosecution.

THE murder trial involving accused Christopher Dhanrad, also known as Paul Jagnandan, Azim Khan, Vijay Rajkumar, called Eon, and Kumar Seeraj called Boysie, for the murder of Teddy Smith on October 24, 2004, began with a voir dire some days ago.

Mr. Hira had wished to discuss at the beginning certain areas of law in the absence of the jury, since the jury were judges of the facts, and the judge was concerned with the law.

Agreeing with the prosecutor, Judge Reynolds told the jury that he was going to excuse them from the courtroom while the question of law was being discussed as the law will have to be resolved in their absence.

Before they left the jury room, he told them, “In so far as the facts are concerned, you are the judges of the facts. You will determine how much of what you have heard you believe and accept in relation to the facts of this matter. That is entirely your domain…a question of fact.

According to the particulars of offence, the accused, on the 24th day of October, 2004, in the County of Demerara, murdered Teddy Smith.

They have pleaded not guilty and are being represented by lawyers Mr. Hukumchand for Azim Khan, Miss Kamini Parag for Rajkumar, Mr. Euclin Gomes for Jagnandan and Mr. Adrian Thompson for Seeraj.
The hearing of the voir dire is continuing with legal arguments.