Relunctant grandfather claims Prosecutor wrote his suggested testimony
THE father of murder accused Bibi Gopaul was called as a witness yesterday, to testify for the prosecution against his daughter and her lover, Jarvis Small. It happened as the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the charge against the two, for the unlawful killing of Neesa Gopaul, continued before Acting Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Special Prosecutor, Prithima Kissoon had previously informed the court that the victim’s grandfather, Mohamed Kayub, will be testifying in the proceedings.
On the last occasion when the PI resumed, the witness did not attend and an arrest warrant was issued for him.
However, yesterday, although he was present in the courtroom, he did not give evidence because he declared that he knows nothing of what transpired in the matter involving his daughter and granddaughter.
Kayub claimed that the prosecutor had invited him to her office and she wrote things and told him to repeat after her. He further said she boasted, to him, that she intends to win the case.
Defence Counsel, Vic Puran, for Gopaul, requested that the prosecutor be changed or that the witness be deemed hostile.
The lawyer contended that the prosecutor cannot tell the witness what she wants him to say in court.
Kissoon said she was only reading her notes to help the witness remember what he has to say in court.
The magistrate adjourned the hearing to tomorrow.
Bibi Gopaul and Small were charged with capital offence after the body of Neesa Gopaul was found stuffed in a suitcase at Madewini, in the vicinity of Emerald Tower Resort, along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.
The prosecution is alleging that the former Queen’s College (QC) student was murdered between September 24 and October 2, 2010.