FORTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD, Rohan ‘Janko’ Teekaram of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara was yesterday committed to stand trial at the October sitting of the Demerara Assizes for the murder of his brother, Dayaram Teekaram, allegedly committed between April 20 and 22 last at Kaneville, EBD.

Rohan ‘Janko’ Teekaram was not required to plead to the indictable offence of murder, but yesterday he elected to given an unsworn statement from the dock after the Chief Magistrate had given him three options to choose from: give a sworn statement, give an unsworn statement, or remain silent.

Having opted to give an unsworn statement, Teekaram did so from the dock, and was not asked any questions by the Chief Magistrate or the Prosecutor. He told the court his side of the story, and said he did not wish to call any witness to testify in his defence.

The unrepresented accused, a labourer by profession, was informed by the Chief Magistrate that a prima facie case had been made out against him, and there is sufficient evidence for him to stand trial at the High Court.

A police press release had said that, around 06:30hrs on Tuesday April 22, 2014, the body of 40-year-old Dayaram Teekaram had been found in the yard of his home at Kaneville with several suspected chop wounds.

Neighbours said they heard the brothers arguing on Sunday night, but it was not immediately clear when Teekaram had been chopped.

(By Geeta Rampersaud)