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JUSTICE Diana Insanally, the trial judge conducting a voir dire (a trial within a trial) in the Cyon Collier, called ‘Picture Boy’, double murder, in relation to an alleged confession statement, ended her inquiry yesterday and is expected to rule on Monday at 09:00hrs. Senior State Counsel Mrs. Judith Gildharie-Mursalin was conducting the substantive trial on October 18, when defence counsel, Mr. Lyndon Amsterdam, objected to the prosecutor tendering in evidence an alleged confession statement, reportedly made by the accused to the police.
His objection was based on a claim that the statement was not obtained freely and voluntarily, and was not taken in accordance with the judges’ rules.
This sparked off a small trial by the judge which concluded yesterday after a 20-day hearing in the absence of the jury.
In the voir dire, the prosecution called nine witnesses to support its case, while the defence called three witnesses, including a doctor.
The judge disclosed that her ruling will be delivered on Monday morning.
On that day, she will rule whether or not the alleged statement is admissible in evidence before the jury.
In the event that the finding is admissible, the judge will direct that it be included in the evidence.
If it is inadmissible, the judge will accept the defence objection.
The case for the prosecution, according to the evidence led so far in the substantive trial, is that sometime during the early hours of the morning of September 23, 2006, a group of young men were playing dominoes at the Victoria Four corner on the East Coast of Demerara.
Two brothers, Ray Walcott, called ‘Sugar’ and his younger brother, Carl Andrews, called ‘Alo’, were standing nearby watching the game.
It is said that the accused, Cyon Collier, called ‘Picture Boy’, rode up on a motorcycle, dressed in black clothing, with a gun slung across his back and began ‘gaffing’ with the men. He then began cranking the gun and started shooting.
Everyone scattered, running off in different directions. Cyon Collier ran after Alo, still shooting.
When the shooting stopped, the two brothers were found with bullet holes in their bodies. They were taken to the Georgetown Hospital, where they were pronounced dead, witnesses said.
His objection was based on a claim that the statement was not obtained freely and voluntarily, and was not taken in accordance with the judges’ rules.
This sparked off a small trial by the judge which concluded yesterday after a 20-day hearing in the absence of the jury.
In the voir dire, the prosecution called nine witnesses to support its case, while the defence called three witnesses, including a doctor.
The judge disclosed that her ruling will be delivered on Monday morning.
On that day, she will rule whether or not the alleged statement is admissible in evidence before the jury.
In the event that the finding is admissible, the judge will direct that it be included in the evidence.
If it is inadmissible, the judge will accept the defence objection.
The case for the prosecution, according to the evidence led so far in the substantive trial, is that sometime during the early hours of the morning of September 23, 2006, a group of young men were playing dominoes at the Victoria Four corner on the East Coast of Demerara.
Two brothers, Ray Walcott, called ‘Sugar’ and his younger brother, Carl Andrews, called ‘Alo’, were standing nearby watching the game.
It is said that the accused, Cyon Collier, called ‘Picture Boy’, rode up on a motorcycle, dressed in black clothing, with a gun slung across his back and began ‘gaffing’ with the men. He then began cranking the gun and started shooting.
Everyone scattered, running off in different directions. Cyon Collier ran after Alo, still shooting.
When the shooting stopped, the two brothers were found with bullet holes in their bodies. They were taken to the Georgetown Hospital, where they were pronounced dead, witnesses said.
