JUSTICE Dawn Gregory and a mixed jury at the Demerara Assizes in the Vlissengen Road murder trial yesterday heard that accused Rayburn Harvey was picked out at an I.D. Parade as the alleged killer of Samantha Belle.
Supt. of Police Lawrence Kissoon told the court that he had conducted an I.D. parade at C.I.D. Headquarters, Eve Leary, when a woman named Alicia identified the accused as the man who allegedly shot and killed Samantha Belle on Vlissengen Road on March 18, 2006.
Following the identification, the accused denied that he was the killer, but was subsequently charged with murder.
At the opening of her address to the jury on the resumption of the trial yesterday, leading prosecutor Miss Teshana James, in association with Miss Rhondel Weaver for the prosecution, assured the jury that she would lead evidence to prove that during a robbery on the night in question, the accused shot and killed Samantha Belle, 28.
According to the prosecutor, evidence would be led to show that a post mortem disclosed that the woman died from perforation of the lungs due to multiple gunshot injuries.
The prosecutor went on to say that when the accused inflicted the gunshot injuries, he intended to kill the victim or cause her grievous bodily harm. There was no question of self-defence, accident or provocation, the prosecutor explained.
The first witness to testify yesterday was Mr. Elston Baird, Inspector of Police, stationed at the Office of Professional Responsibility.
According to him, during the month of March, 2006, he was then Detective Inspector stationed at the La Penitence Police Station and attached to the C.I.D. as Inspector in charge of crime. Relative to a report of alleged murder made to the police and committed on Samantha Belle, witness said that on 18 of March, 2006, he assisted in conducting investigations. He visited the scene and observed that the area was on Vlissengen Road. West of the road, he observed that there was a house approximately 80 or 90 yards from the road. He also observed that there was a track leading from the road to the house. He received information that the said house was where the deceased used to live. He also observed that the St. Sidwell’s Primary School was approximately 90 to 100 yards from the road.
Witness said that he observed what appeared to be a pool of blood on the road and that there were fluorescent lights on St. Sidwell’s school.
Another witness was Supt. Lawrence Kisson.  He said that on April 30, 2006, he met the accused at C.I.D. headquarters, Eve Leary. He told him that he, the accused, was a suspect, that in company with another man in the act of robbing Samantha Belle on the 18th of March, 2006, he shot and killed her. He told the accused that he would be placed on an identification parade with persons of similar height, colour and stature.
The accused was picked out of the parade that involved 8 persons.
Witness told the accused that he was identified as Belle’s alleged killer, and then cautioned him. The accused denied the allegation.