JUSTICE Brassington Reynolds spotted the manoeuvre yesterday when murder accused Kevin Verwayne in an effort to get an early trial tricked officials into believing that he would plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

But after Prosecutor Diana Kaulesar pointed out that the accused who was expected to plead not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, had done the turnabout by pleading not guilty to both counts, the judge observed: “It is a manoeuvre which I have seen before.”
According to reports prisoners in the past have offered to plead guilty to offences, only to change their promise on arrival in court when it is hoped they would be given an early trial ahead of those who were entitled to be tried ahead of them.
However, this trick did not pay off yesterday. Prosecutor Kaulesar noted that other prisoners are listed to be tried before Verwayne, and applied to the court to have the application for an early trial aborted.
Justice Reynolds who is going on leave and will not be returning until April 30 will rule on the application on the 30th of April, 2013.
Verwayne is indicted for the murder of his reputed wife Farida Ramdeen, called Suzy Ramdeen.
He had promised the prosecution that he would plead not guilty to murder but guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter and was represented by State-assigned Attorney-at-law Kevon Bess.
Verwayne told the court that he was unaware about the claim that he was prepared to plead guilty to the lesser count.
Justice Reynolds will rule on the matter on April 30th.