Alleged killer in stepfather murder case freed

– prosecuting counsel serves notice of intention to appeal
– three others to face retrial

IN a surprise verdict at the Demerara Assizes yesterday, which the trial judge described as “shocking”, the alleged killer in the stepfather murder case was freed by the jury.
However, the jury disagreed on a verdict with respect to the other accused Shamiza Khan, called ‘Sham’; Hoosman Khan, called ‘Strong Man’ and Bibi Farida Khan, called ‘Pum’. The disagreement was in proportion of eight saying ‘not guilty’ and four saying ‘guilty’.

They were on trial for the murder of Motilall Singh of Windsor Forest, West Coast of Demerara, on September 7, 2009, after it was alleged he was stabbed 21 times by the number one accused, Bissoondial Mahadeo, who later claimed that the police had used violence on him to obtain a confession.
Yesterday morning Justice Navindra Singh summed up the evidence to the jury in three hours. The jury then took four hours to reach their verdict of not guilty in respect of Bissoondial and disagreement in relation to the other three accused.
Following the jury’s verdict of not guilty in relation to the number one accused, the shocked senior prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Judith Gildharie-Mursalin promptly presented to the judge a Notice of Intention to Appeal against a verdict of acquittal under Section 33C (1) of the Court of Appeal Act, Chapter 3:01, as amended by the Court of Appeal (Amendment) Act No. 4 of 2010.
The Registrar of the Supreme Court was served with a notice that the Director of Public Prosecutions desires to appeal against the verdict of acquittal.
The freed accused was then told that he was free to leave the dock.
He was followed by his lawyer Mr. Glenn Hanoman. They would now have to await their summons from the DPP in relation to the appeal against the verdict of acquittal.
Even Senior Counsel, Mr. Bernard De Santos whose clients will have to face a retrial was saddened by the situation and noted that something went wrong.

(By George Barclay)