DAYWAN Kawal, an accused who, by plea agreement, was jailed for seven years for the lesser count of manslaughter, yesterday told an Assize judge and jury that he and Burt Lancaster had robbed and killed taxi-driver Deonarine Sukhdeo in April, 2006. In her opening address to the jury, State Prosecutor, Miss Diana Kulesar said evidence would be led to show that the accused, Lancaster, and his co-worker Daywan Kawal, had left work on April 19 when they hired taxi driver Deonarine Sookdeo to take them on a journey.
She said evidence will disclose that the two men went to Soesdyke to have drinks with two friends. During the course of the journey, driver Deonarine Sukhdeo stopped at a gas station, and while he was out of the car, the accused, Lancaster, suggested that they should rob him, and Kawal agreed.
They then asked Sookhdeo to take them up a trail to Kuru Kuru. Once on the trail, Daywan Kawal and the accused, Lancaster, used a knife to attack and rob Sookdeo. A post-mortem examination was conducted on the decomposing body of Sookdeo, and findings revealed the cause of death as multiple stab wounds. They had robbed the driver of a cellphone and money, and had left the injured man on the trail.
Sukhdeo died in that trail sometime between the 19th and 20th days of April 2006.
Mr. Basil Williams, attorney-at-law for the accused Lancaster, will cross-examine the witness Daywan Kawal today.
Justice Dawn Gregory is presiding at the jury trial.