Lawyers argue over deposition of witness at PI
A NEW witness, taxi driver Ashram Tewari took the stand, when the preliminary inquiry (PI) in the Neesa Gopaul murder case resumed yesterday.
But, with the victim’s mother, Bibi Shareema Gopaul and stepfather, Jarvis Small, in the dock, the lawyers on opposite sides argued over the admissibility of the deposition. Special Prosecutor Prithima Kissoon was questioning the witness when Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, for the Defence, submitted that the testimony is hearsay and objected to it being admitted.
Kissoon countered that it is admissible and the magistrate recorded it and the objection, stating that she will make a ruling as to whether it would be accepted or expunged.    
The magistrate observed that the proceedings have been lagging behind and indicated that she will set aside an entire week to facilitate the hearing, on July 13, 14, 19 20 and 21.
The prisoners, who were further remanded, are charged with unlawfully killing the former Queen’s College (QC) student between September 24 and October 2, 2010, after the girl’s dead body was recovered at Madewini, along Soesdyke/Linden Highway.
The corpse was found stuffed in a suitcase in Madewini Creek near Emerald Tower Resort, battered almost beyond recognition.