Witness in West Bank Demerara murder trial voir dire deemed…
DETECTIVE Corporal Oswald Foo was testifying for the prosecution in a voir dire (a trial witin a trial) yesterday when defence counsel Mr. Vic Puran deemed him “a liar without a conscience”.
The witness was under cross-examination by the defence in the voir dire being conducted by  presiding Judge  Winston Patterson.
After hearing evidence and legal arguments in the absence of the jury at the Demerara Assizes, the judge will decide whether or not the alleged statement is admissible in evidence.
Prosecutors Miss Latchmie Rahamat and Mrs Judith Gildharie-Mursalin were about to put the statement in evidence two days ago when defence counsel Puran objected on the ground that the alleged statement was not obtained in accordance with the judge’s rules, and as such should be  thrown out of the evidence.
This objection sparked off the 3rd voir dire in the trial in the absence of the jury.
The voir dire continues on Monday when the witness Corporal Foo will be further cross-examined by Mr. Puran. Foo has been facing cross-examination for the past three days.
The prosecution has set out to prove that  following  a wedding house function at Clay-Brick Village on the night of February 2, 2008, Farzam Khan,  one of the invitees, left in a car to purchase an aerated drink not far away.
AS soon as he alighted from the car it is said that he was stabbed to death.
The accused, Lakenauth Dial, called Mohan, was subsequently arrested and charged with murder.
In Court, Dial has pleaded not  guilty and is being represented by  lawyer  Mr. Vic Puran.
The hearing continues on Monday.