SPECIAL Prosecutor, Prithima Kissoon responded yesterday to written submissions by defence counsel, Vic Puran at the preliminary inquiry (PI) in the Neesa Gopaul murder case. Puran, who represents the victim’s mother, Bibi Gopaul, was not in court but had previously sent his arguments in writing to Acting Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Kissoon was given an opportunity to peruse them and informed the magistrate that she would respond immediately, since she already anticipated what would have been the basis for the other lawyer’s contention.
The prosecutor said, with regard to Puran’s argument, there are no certain details to show that Neesa Gopaul is dead but the prosecution replied on the evidence of Police Sergeant Greaves, who obtained samples from the body found, which were sent to Barbados for a DNA analysis.
Kissoon added that the analyst from Barbados, Ms. Lorene Allen also gave the court reliable testimony pertaining to the scientific analysis of the maternal mother of the deceased.
Kissoon continued that, as it relates to the identification of the teenager’s body, Puran failed to take note that evidence was given, showing that the mother of the deceased was at the funeral parlour to identify the corpse.
The prosecutor noted that, in the defence, Puran claimed that the only evidence against his client is that of Simone De Nobrega.
According to Kissoon, De Nobrega’s is not the only piece of evidence and there is more, in the form of circumstantial.
Kissoon declared that what Puran submitted to the court is misleading.
The magistrate adjourned the proceedings to July 23, allowing for Puran to reply.
The victim’s mother, Bibi Gopaul and her lover, Jarvis Small are charged with unlawfully killing the former Queen’s College (QC) student between September 24 and October 2, 2010.
The remains, barely recognisable, were found stuffed in a suitcase that was retrieved from Madewini Creek, along Soesdyke/Linden Highway near Emerald Tower Resort.