AT the opening of ‘Country’s’ murder trial yesterday, leading prosecutrix Mrs. Judith Mursalin told the jury that the people and the accused are all entitled to their impartial assessment of the facts of this case.

And she advised them, “If you have a doubt at the end of the case, it must be based on reason and commonsense.”
The prosecutrix was delivering her opening address to the jury at the trial in which Omesh Chaitram, called ‘Black Boy’, is charged with the murder of Wendell Fresco, called ‘Country’, on June 10, 2012.
The prosecutrix is representing the State while Attorney-at-law Mr. Raymond Ali is appearing for the accused who has pleaded not guilty.
Mursalin also told the jury that the prosecution in order to prove the offence of murder will have to prove certain elements.
According to her, they will have to prove that ‘Country’ died as a result of injuries he received – that he died within a year and a day of receiving those injures; that it was the accused Omesh Chaitram, called ‘Black Boy’ ; who inflicted the injury or injuries that caused his death; that the accused inflicted the injures on ‘Country’ with the intention to kill him or to cause him grievous bodily harm which is serious bodily harm.
Referring to the facts of the case, the prosecutrix stated that Wendell Fresco ‘Country’ had a home at Hunter Street, Albouystown with his brothers but he was mostly living on the streets, around Bourda Market.
On 10th July, 2012, he was found lying under a shed at Alexander Street and he appeared to be dead.
The prosecutrix said further that he had what appeared to be blood on his body and a stab wound to his chest. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
According to her, on July 12, 2012, Government Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh performed a post-mortem examination on ‘Country’s’ body and found he had sustained two incised wounds – one with a stabbing action to the left chest going from left to right and slightly downwards, caused by a sharp-pointed instrument at least 12 cm in length.
The doctor, she said, gave the cause of death as perforation of the heart.
‘Country’ was 35 years old at the time of his death. Following police investigations the accused was charged.
Yesterday afternoon, Justice Navindra Singh, the trial judge, conducted a voir dire (a trial within a trial) to determine the admissibility of a caution statement in the matter.
Witness, Constable Chaitram Seeram, testified at the voir dire.
The hearing is continuing.
Written By George Barclay