SENIOR Counsel Bernard De Santos submitted yesterday that, besides the dumb-bells found alongside the remains of Neesa Gopaul, there is no legal evidence to connect the accused, Jarvis Small to her murder. The lawyer made the submission at the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the charge against Small, whom he is representing and the victim’s mother, Bibi Gopaul, when the proceedings continued before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
De Santos also argued that there is nothing in statements from the Police that can be used as firm testimony against Small.
However, the magistrate adjourned the PI to August 9 for possible ruling.
Gopaul, represented by other attorney-at-law Mr. Vic Puran and Small, her lover, are charged with unlawfully killing the former Queen’s College (QC) student between September 24 and October 2, 2010.
The teenager’s remains, barely recognisable, were found stuffed in a suitcase that was retrieved from Madewini Creek, along Soesdyke/Linden Highway near Emerald Tower Resort.
The body was tied with a length of rope to which a gym weight was attached, suspected at the time of discovery to be used as a means of anchoring the body down. It is said that the girl had some months before her gruesome death complained about being abused by persons with whom she was familiar.
Neesa’s horrific death had sparked widespread outrage, both locally and internationally.