Prosecution witness reneges on testimony about shooter recognition

A WITNESS for the prosecution in the Mahaica murder case, Daveonand Persaud, who had told Justice Franklyn Holder and the mixed jury that he had recognised the gunman who shot the murder victim, later reneged under cross-examination.

Testifying at the Demerara Assizes on Tuesday, he admitted: “I barely saw the man. I did not recognise him.”
Persaud was giving evidence at the trial in which Shawn Anthony Thom and Orin David are facing a two-count indictment, accusing them of murdering Lakhram Bishundial called ‘Mohan’ and robbery under arms, committed on August 21, 2010.
Persaud agreed that he gave different descriptions of the gunman, to whom he had referred, from time to time, as a ‘Rasta’, ‘Rasta man with plaits’, ‘negro man’ and ‘a ‘dougla boy.’
The witness concurred that there was a difference between the statements: “I barely see the man” and “I recognised the man.”
Under re-examination by state prosecutor, Ms. Judith Mursalin, the witness acknowledged knowing that the statements he made were different but had no explanation for making them.
Attorneys-at-law, Mr. Trenton Lake and Mr. George Thomas are representing the accused at the continuing trial.

(By George Barclay)