SATESH  Singh, one of the accused in the Annandale murder case,  was freed by the jury on Tuesday, but the mixed jury at the Demerara Assizes disagreed over  a verdict with respect to Parsram Lalchand, called ‘Desmond’.

‘Desmond’ has been remanded to prison and will have to face a new trial for murder. Presiding trial judge,  Justice  Navindra Singh remanded him to prison and ordered that he be made to face a new  trial at the next sitting of the Demerara Assizes.
The six  accused who were charged for beating to death 58-year- old Annandale labourer Niranjan in July 2008 were   Vishal Singh, Vishnu Singh and Babsie Singh, who  in a plea bargain agreement   pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter and were each sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. It was  reported  that the horrible  killing of Niranjan  was due to a misunderstanding over a bicycle.
The   youngest offender amongst   them,  Akash Singh, 14,  was freed after he was  fortunate  to have the Director of Public Prosecutions   enter a nolle prosequi  (withdrawal of the charge ) in his favour.
However, Satesh Singh  and Parsram Lalchand called ‘Desmond’  pleaded not guilty and faced  a trial which ended on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the judge summed up the evidence in one hour and 30 minutes.
The jury took about  three hours to reach their not  guilty of murder verdict in favour of Satesh Singh, while they had a  disagreement  in relation to Parsram Lalchand. They told the judge that further directions would not be helpful to them.
Both accused were represented by  Attorneys-at-law   Hukumchand  and  Moses Nagamootoo. Prosecutors in the matter were   Dhanika Singh and  Konyo Thompson.
While  Satesh Singh  was discharged by the judge following the jury’s verdict, relatives in the courtroom awaited  the directions   of the judge with respect  to  Lalchand, who was remanded to  prison and ordered  to  face a new trial for murder.