Voir dire being held to determine admissibility of alleged confession statement

JUSTICE Dawn Gregory is in the process of conducting a voir dire (trial within a trial) to determine the admissibility of a confession allegedly made by murder accused Albert Andries, 75, who is on trial for the alleged murder of Lakeram Persaud, called ‘Bojo’, reputedly committed on July 27, 2012.
Represented by Attorney-at-law Miss Sonia Parag, Andries is said to be stepfather of the deceased.
The judge decided to conduct the voir dire after defence counsel objected to the prosecution tendering an alleged confession in evidence on the ground that it was not obtained in accordance with the Judge’s Rules.

The ailing accused, who is said to be experiencing difficulty in walking, is allegedly suffering from a stroke which he contracted years ago.

The prosecution is being conducted by Attorney-at-law Miss Mercedes Thompson, in association with new lawyer Mr. Lloyd Mark Conway. At the substantive trial, before the voir dire began, evidence was led to show that the accused was the stepfather of Lakeram Persaud, now deceased; and that the accused was arrested and charged with the offence of murder following an argument which he had with Lakeram Persaud, 34, (now deceased) which ended with Persaud being fatally injured.

The hearing is continuing.

(By George Barclay)