AS the prosecution was wrapping up its case in the Lusignan mass murder trial in the High Court yesterday, Assistant Police Supt. Trevor Reid, replying to a suggestion by Defence Counsel Nigel Hughes, asked the lawyer: “Who played with the lives of the people at Lusignan?”

Counsel did not answer.

ASP Reid was being cross-examined by Mr. Hughes when the latter accused the former of playing with the lives of the accused by the unfair manner in which he had investigated the crime. This prompted ASP Reid’s searching response.

Mr. Hughes had accused ASP Reid of using unfair methods during his investigation of the crime in order to get evidence against the accused when, according to Hughes, there was no evidence against the accused. Reid said the methods used in the investigations in which he had participated were fair, and he denied there was a breach of the judges’ rules.

On resumption of the trial yesterday, Prosecutrix Mrs Judith Gildharie-Mursalin called Government Forensic Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh to testify about his findings in the post-mortem.
She also called three additional witnesses, who gave formal evidence in relation to their attendance at the post-mortem to identify some of the deceased to Dr. Singh and the police.

Dr. Singh said the 11 persons had died from multiple gunshot injuries, and that from the nature of the injuries, they had died instantaneously.He said that 22-yer-old Shazim Mohamed, known as Shazam, had sustained three gunshot injuries; Rooplall Seecharran, also known as Seecharran Rooplall,52, had sustained two gunshot injuries; Banrajie Ramsingh,52, had three gunshot injuries; Raywattie Ramsingh,11, had sustained one gunshot injury from the back of the head going down to her spine; Mohandai Gurudat,31, had sustained five gunshot injuries; Seegopaul Harilall,10, had two gunshot injuries; Seegobin Harrilall, 4, had four gunshot injuries; Clarence Thomas, 48, had sustained seven gunshot injuries; Venessa Thomas,12, had seven gunshot injuries; and Ron Thomas,11, had 4 gunshot injuries.

Doctor Singh concluded that, from the injuries inflicted, all 11 persons would have died instantly.

After the case for the prosecution was closed, defence attorney Mr. Roger Yearwood, representing the accused Mark Royden Williams, also known as ‘Smallie’, applied to have his defence begin on Monday. He said he would be calling one witness.

Mr. Nigel Hughes, defending James Anthony Hyles, also known as ‘Sally’, will also make his defence on Monday. He would also be calling a single witness.

The accused men are facing an 11-count indictment for murder allegedly committed on the 11 persons killed in the Lusignan massacre on January 26, 2008.

Yesterday was the 10th day of the hearing, which continues on Monday at the Demerara Assizes before Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed jury.