One more witness testifies at attempted murder PI
THE preliminary inquiry (PI) into the joint charge against five men accused of attempting to murder a policeman, on the 2009 night of terrorist activities in Georgetown, resumed yesterday before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
In the dock were Colin Jones, his brother Jahfar Simpson, Randy Mars, Basil Morgan and Anthony Watson, who are charged with having attempted to unlawfully kill Police Constable Rajendra Singh.
Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, called a fourth witness, Sergeant Caesar of Timehri Police Station and, as he testified, the accused were observed grinning.
The prosecutor moved to have the caution statement attributed to Mars tendered as evidence but defence counsel George Thomas objected on several grounds.
The lawyer submitted that the attestation was secured under duress and there was a breach of the Judges Rules, because the accused was not given the opportunity to choose someone else, apart from Caesar, to write it or to make a telephone call.
The objection was overruled by the magistrate and admitted the document, ruling that the prosecution has proved the essential elements to lay the foundation for the admission.
Other defence counsel Tanya Warren, for Morgan, declined to cross-examine the witness and Thomas requested another date to do his cross-examination.
The pre-trial proceedings were then adjourned to April 14.
The allegation against the quintet is that, between November 3 and 4, 2009, at Brickdam Police Station, with the intent to murder, they discharged a loaded firearm at Constable Singh.