THE jury in the Stewartville Robbery/murder trial, which began at the Demerara Assizes yesterday, heard that 34-year old  Vishu Santi was returning home in June, 2005, after visiting his girl friend at Ocean View, Uitvlugt, West Coast, Demerara, when he was shot and killed by bandits during a robbery bid. Facing trial for the alleged robbery/murder are Peter Ray Kassim, called ‘Donkey’, and Satanand Sahadeo, called ‘Boyso’.
They have pleaded not guilty, and are represented by lawyers Mr. Huckumchand for Kassim, and Mr. George Thomas for Sahadeo.
In her opening address to the jury, Prosecutor Singh said that evidence will be led to show that Vishnu Santi left in his car from his home at Stewartville to buy water and paper cups for his mother, Dhanpattie Santi, and to visit his girl friend. He returned home shortly after 21.00 hrs, parked his car and was heading upstairs when he was confronted by bandits with guns.
According to the prosecutor, witnesses will say that Vishnu shouted for his niece Vanessa, and then for his father, exclaiming “Daddy, they gon shoot me.”
Evidence will show that after several shots rang out, the victim’s father, Frank Santi, rushed from his bedroom to see what had happened to his son, who he found on the stairs, bleeding profusely.
Vishnu Santi was taken to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
On July 1, 2005, Dr. D.N. Singh performed a post mortem on the body and found 2 bullets which were recovered. Dr. Singh gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage, caused by multiple gunshot wounds.
The prosecutor also told the jury that in judging the facts, they must do so impartially, without prejudice or sympathy. She added, “Don’t be afraid of anyone, and you must come to your decision without fear. Should anyone approach you to discuss the case, you must not do so, and if anyone persists in approaching you, then it is your duty to report the matter to His Honour, the trial Judge.
“If at the end of the hearing all of the evidence of this case you have reasonable doubt that the accused did in fact murder Vishnu Santi, then all you have to do is to acquit them of the crime and send them home.
“But if you are sure that these accused were the persons who inflicted multiple gunshot wounds on Vishnu Santi, which resulted in his death, then you must find them guilty of the crime.
The first witness called was Dhanpattie Santi, the mother of the deceased. She told the judge and jury how she and her husband ran out of their house that night in time to see their son lying speechless.
Dhanpatt said that after she heard the car that night, she heard her son shout, “Daddy, they gon shoot me.”
In answer to cross-examination by defence counsel, the witness said that on that night she did not see any of the accused outside of her home.       
The hearing continues today.