Challenged statement triggers smaller trial in murder case
THE Defence in the headless body murder case, at the Berbice Assizes, challenged the admissibility of a statement attributed to accused, Danny Busjit.
Representing the prisoner, attorney-at-law Mr. Mursulene Bacchus claimed threats and promises held out by persons in authority were used to secure the signature on the document.
As a result, Justice Brassington Reynolds is conducting a voir dire (trial within a trial) to resolve the issue.
Bacchus, who is associated with Mrs. Kim Kyte-John, argued that the attestation was not given freely and voluntarily.
The objection to its admission was made during the testimony of Police Detective Assistant Superintendent Gary Mc Allister, who said Busjit elected to make the written deposition.
Earlier, Mc Allister, led in evidence-in-chief by State Prosecutor Dionne Mc Cammon, told the judge and mixed jury that, after contacting the accused at Mibicuri  Police Station, in Black Busk Polder, Corentyne, he put the allegation, under caution, to the man in the dock and the latter offered to relate what happened.
The first witness for the Prosecution, Police Detective Sergeant Richard Frank recalled speaking to the accused at a place where three bridges are connected in Mibicuri, at approximately 09:00 hrs on November 27, 2005.
Frank said he cautioned Busjit and informed him of the allegation that, he, whilst in company with others, murdered Kalidas Surujnarine.
The policeman said the accused remained silent before being arrested and taken to Mibicuri Police Station.
The witness said, however, that, at 17:15 h the same day, the accused took him to his mother’s residence and pointed to a spot behind the house where US$344, along with six wrist watches and a yellow metal chain were found in a transparent plastic bag.
Frank said, following the discovery, the articles were taken into custody and a confrontation was held with Busjit and his mother, Bhanmattie Singh.
The witness said, during that encounter, the accused said the woman started to quarrel with him after he told her that he, Deryck and Rafeek killed the victim.
Frank said the woman acknowledged what she was told by her son and said she did not tell the Police because she was frightened.
At that stage, Mc Cammon sought leave for the witness to return and tender the exhibits.
Meanwhile, prior to the commencement of the trial, the State made a successful application for Singh’s name to be deleted from the indictment, so that she is no longer being tried together with her son.
Singh was originally charged with being an accessory after the fact of murder and the body of Surujnarine, minus the head, was discovered in his yard at Mibicuri on November 26, 2004.
The case is continuing.