JUSTICE Navindra Singh is today expected to sum up the evidence in the trial of Omesh Chaitram, alias ‘Black Boy’, who has been indicted for the murder of Wendell Fresco, called ‘Country’, allegedly committed on July 10, 2012 in Alexander Street, Georgetown.

Thereafter, he will hand over the case to the jury for consideration and verdict. By this afternoon, if there is no hung jury, ‘Black Boy’ will either be convicted or acquitted.

Represented by Mr. Raymond Ali, a Berbice lawyer allegedly with years of experience in the British courts, ‘Black Boy’ has pleaded not guilty to the murder of ‘Country’.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior State Counsel, Mrs. Judith Mursalin.

Before pleading not guilty, ‘Black Boy’ had confessed to the police that, on the night in question, he had been sleeping on a pavement in the city with $800 hidden in his crotch when his friend ‘Country’ searched him and stole the money.
When he accosted ‘Country’ in regard to the stealing of the money, ‘Country’ told him: ‘Rest yourself’, and had stabbed him and run away.

‘Black Boy’ had told the police, “After (Country) left, I went to the drug yard in North Road, where I bought two bags of drugs. I used one, then put my knife in my waist and went to Alexander Street, where I saw ‘Country’ walking. I stabbed him and ran away. That same early morning I went to Cummings Street, where the police came and arrested me.”

On resumption of the trial yesterday, Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, who performed the post-mortem on Wendell Fresco, called ‘Country’, testified that the deceased had sustained two incised wounds, one with a stabbing action to the left chest. He gave the cause of death as perforation of the heart.

On resumption of the case today, the defence counsel and the prosecutrix will each address the jury, which would take about an hour to be completed.

The judge has already indicated that the case was a short one, and his summing up will not be lengthy.
Written By George Barclay