Juror illness delays proceedings in murder case
THE Prosecution closed in the voir dire (trial within a trial) for one of the accused in the Non Pariel murder case but, when another smaller trial, for the other was about to begin Thursday morning, a juror became ill. Consequently, Justice Winston Patterson adjourned the proceedings to next Tuesday.

The indicted duo, Kennise Glasgow called  ‘Zachey’ or ‘Juma’, represented by Mr. Basil Williams and Dexter Headley alias ‘Mas’, whose Defence Counsel is Mr. Maxwell Mc Kay, are indicted for the murder of Davechand Appanna.

At the start of the voir dire in relation to the alleged confession by Headley, he was cross-examined extensively by leading prosecutor, Ms. Techana James-Lake, who is associated with State Counsel Zamilla Ali.

On Wednesday, the judge was to start the process for Glasgow when the adjournment had to be taken.

Both prisoners had objected to the admission of the caution statements in relation to the unlawful killing of Appanna on August 17, 2004, on the ground that the attestations were not obtained in accordance with the Judges Rules.

The witnesses, who have testified, so far, include Detective Sergeant Paul Wintz of Beterverwagting Police Station, Detective Sergeant Chabenauth Singh of Vigilance Police Station, both on the East Coast Demerara and Assistant Superintendent Linden Lord of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Before the start of the smaller trial, Kemraji, a witness for the Prosecution, had told the judge and jury that three armed men, whom she did not recognize, had attacked her home at Non Pariel, also on East Coast Demerara, demanding money and jewellery from her and her husband.

She said: “After they stabbed my husband with a knife, I heard him shout: ‘Oh God ah dead’.”

Under cross-examination, the witness said that, because of the chops she suffered on her head during the cutlass attack, she was rendered unconscious and only regained consciousness at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

As a consequence, she did not recognise her attackers.