Caution statement admitted in Fernandes murder trial
MINUTES after Justice James Bovell-Drakes  in the Fernandes murder trial admitted a caution statement in a voir dire yesterday, policeman Bobb Blackman, who took the statement, testified that the accused Compton Fernandes had admitted, “I beat the man”. Fernandes is accused with having, on Sunday July 3, 2005, in the county of Demerara, murdered Latchman Seeram, also called ’Coolie Boy’.
Blackman testified  that on putting the allegation  to the accused that he and others had murdered ‘Coolie Boy’,  the accused had told him, “I beat the man”.
But according to him, the accused did not repeat the statement after being cautioned.
Under cross-examination by Mr. Glenn Hanoman for the defence, witness denied a suggestion that when he first put the question to the accused, the accused was rambling and he could not understand what he was saying.
During the voir dire ( a trial within a trial) one of the witnesses  called in defence of the accused was  Psychiatrist Dr. Bhairo Barry.
The trial is continuing.