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DEPUTY Superintendant of Police (DSP), Julius Wright continued his evidence-in-chief yesterday, at the trial of Chandrada Rampersaud, Hardat Kumar, Jermaine Mitchell, Aubrey Simon and Rayon Jones, who are all accused of robbing businessman, Malcolm Panday and his wife Annie Ramsood in July last year. The case is tried by Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and Wright told the court he took a caution statement from Jones when he was taken to Brickdam Police Station.
Attorney-at-law, Mr. Glenn Hanoman, who is prosecuting, made an application for the statement to be admitted in evidence but the other lawyer, Mr. Randolph Kirton, representing Jones, objected to it being tendered and cited several grounds.
Kirton claimed that Jones did not give the attestation and that violence was inflicted on him. In addition, he said it was given under duress and inducements were made to Jones.
Kirton said, too, that Jones was tricked into putting his initials on the document.
“They tricked Rayon Jones, by informing him that, if he initialed some papers, he will retrieve his documents and be able to leave the said afternoon,” Kirton submitted.
Hanoman asked the other lawyer to reveal, to the court, who used the violence, when and where it occurred and who tricked Jones and offered inducements.
Hanoman also requested that Kirton make it clear whether a statement was given by his client or not.
SEVERE DURESS
In response, Kirton said his client was placed under severe duress by Wright, Chapman, Gravesande and Bowman, while they all interrogated him in Chapman’s office at the Brickdam Police Station.
Kirton alleged that Chapman specifically threatened to strike his client with a metal object on his desk and maintained that Jones did not give a caution statement but was forced and tricked to put his initials on the document.
Kirton said four more ‘black clothes’ policemen joined the other officers and placed a bag over his client’s head hitting him with books on his head.
However, the magistrate admitted the caution statement in evidence.
After listening to Kirton’s objection, Hanoman asked the witness, who was still on the stand, to relate, to the court, exactly what occurred when he took the caution statement from Jones.
Wright recalled that Chapman told him, Jones was one of the persons, allegedly, involved in the robbery of Ramsood and her husband at Lot 35 Bel Air Gardens and that he should interview him.
The witness said when he put the allegation to Jones, the latter started to tell a story but he stopped him and advised him of his rights of writing his statement himself or having a lawyer, a relative or a friend present.
NEVER ASKED
Wright said the defendant never asked for anyone to be present neither did he appear to be in any discomfort or pain and, upon Jones’ request, he wrote the caution statement which Jones signed and Sergeant Gravesande witnessed.
Wright added that, at no time, were any threats made to Jones, neither any violence used on him or tricks or promises.
Gravesande was then called to the witness stand to testify about witnessing the caution statement. He had, earlier, testified in relation to all the defendants.
Gravesande confirmed that he witnessed the caution statement of Jones which was taken by Wright.
He was cross-examined by Kirton, who asked him about another caution statement that was taken from Jones but the witness said he is not aware of any other.
At the previous hearing, Sergeant Phillip Bowman told the court that he was involved in the taking of statements from several persons in relation to the robbery.
Later in the day, Sergeant Eon Jackson was called to continue his evidence-in-chief and Corporal Desmond Johnny gave his evidence-in-chief as it relates to the crime scene.
Three more witnesses are to testify and the prosecution is expected to soon close the case against the defendants, which continues today.
Rampersaud, Kumar, Mitchell, Simon and Jones are all facing the charge that, on July 12, 2011, at Bel Air, they robbed Ramsood of $7.4M, property of Malcolm Panday. It is alleged that they also stole, from Ramsood, one Blackberry Curve cell phone and $380,000 cash.
Another man, Rabindra Seemangal pleaded guilty to the crime on September 11 and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.
Attorney-at-law, Mr. Glenn Hanoman, who is prosecuting, made an application for the statement to be admitted in evidence but the other lawyer, Mr. Randolph Kirton, representing Jones, objected to it being tendered and cited several grounds.
Kirton claimed that Jones did not give the attestation and that violence was inflicted on him. In addition, he said it was given under duress and inducements were made to Jones.
Kirton said, too, that Jones was tricked into putting his initials on the document.
“They tricked Rayon Jones, by informing him that, if he initialed some papers, he will retrieve his documents and be able to leave the said afternoon,” Kirton submitted.
Hanoman asked the other lawyer to reveal, to the court, who used the violence, when and where it occurred and who tricked Jones and offered inducements.
Hanoman also requested that Kirton make it clear whether a statement was given by his client or not.
SEVERE DURESS
In response, Kirton said his client was placed under severe duress by Wright, Chapman, Gravesande and Bowman, while they all interrogated him in Chapman’s office at the Brickdam Police Station.
Kirton alleged that Chapman specifically threatened to strike his client with a metal object on his desk and maintained that Jones did not give a caution statement but was forced and tricked to put his initials on the document.
Kirton said four more ‘black clothes’ policemen joined the other officers and placed a bag over his client’s head hitting him with books on his head.
However, the magistrate admitted the caution statement in evidence.
After listening to Kirton’s objection, Hanoman asked the witness, who was still on the stand, to relate, to the court, exactly what occurred when he took the caution statement from Jones.
Wright recalled that Chapman told him, Jones was one of the persons, allegedly, involved in the robbery of Ramsood and her husband at Lot 35 Bel Air Gardens and that he should interview him.
The witness said when he put the allegation to Jones, the latter started to tell a story but he stopped him and advised him of his rights of writing his statement himself or having a lawyer, a relative or a friend present.
NEVER ASKED
Wright said the defendant never asked for anyone to be present neither did he appear to be in any discomfort or pain and, upon Jones’ request, he wrote the caution statement which Jones signed and Sergeant Gravesande witnessed.
Wright added that, at no time, were any threats made to Jones, neither any violence used on him or tricks or promises.
Gravesande was then called to the witness stand to testify about witnessing the caution statement. He had, earlier, testified in relation to all the defendants.
Gravesande confirmed that he witnessed the caution statement of Jones which was taken by Wright.
He was cross-examined by Kirton, who asked him about another caution statement that was taken from Jones but the witness said he is not aware of any other.
At the previous hearing, Sergeant Phillip Bowman told the court that he was involved in the taking of statements from several persons in relation to the robbery.
Later in the day, Sergeant Eon Jackson was called to continue his evidence-in-chief and Corporal Desmond Johnny gave his evidence-in-chief as it relates to the crime scene.
Three more witnesses are to testify and the prosecution is expected to soon close the case against the defendants, which continues today.
Rampersaud, Kumar, Mitchell, Simon and Jones are all facing the charge that, on July 12, 2011, at Bel Air, they robbed Ramsood of $7.4M, property of Malcolm Panday. It is alleged that they also stole, from Ramsood, one Blackberry Curve cell phone and $380,000 cash.
Another man, Rabindra Seemangal pleaded guilty to the crime on September 11 and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.
