LANCE Corporal Germain Laundry yesterday told Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed jury about the day he and a police party found a black suitcase with the mutilated body of the alleged victim Neesa Gopaul.In the suitcase with part of the head missing from the body, the police said they were able to find in a compartment of the suitcase a passport of the victim, along with other means of identification.

Police investigations that followed the discovery led to the mother, Bibi Gopaul, and her paramour, Jarvis Small, being arrested and indicted with murder of the Queen’s College student.
Both accused have pleaded not guilty. Small is represented by Senior Counsel, Mr. Bernard De Santos, Mr. Glenn Hanoman, Mr. Leslie Amsterdam and Miss Zanno Frank while Mr. George Thomas is appearing for the accused Bibi Gopaul.
For the prosecution Ms. Diana Kaulesar-O’Brien, in association with Miss Mercedes Thomson and Miss Stacy Goodings, is appearing for the State.
When the trial was resumed yesterday Lance Corporal Germain Laundry who is now stationed at Sparendaam Police Station was called as a witness.
He testified that during the month of October 2010, he was stationed at Timehri Police Station and attached to the C. I. D.
He declared that on October 2, 2010, he was stationed at Timehri Police Station when he received a telephone call from an unknown caller who told him something.
As a result of what was told to him, he and a party of policemen, including Corporal Hosanah and Constable George, visited the scene at Emerald Tower Resort which is located about two miles east of the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.
He also observed a creek which runs from north to south, then turns west in an L shape and both sides of the creek had grass.
At the south western side of the creek, he saw a black suitcase which was partly submerged and it was tied with a red rope. And according to him, the rope was tied to something which was under the water.
Witness said he then observed what appears to be a human hand, out of the suit case. He then caused Constable George to photograph same after which he went into the water and cut the rope.
Witness said that he then pulled the suitcase to the corner of the creek, with the assistance of the ranks. He pulled the suitcase out of the water and the ranks assisted him in taking out the body from the suitcase. Thereafter, he observed what appeared to be a female with a bashed in head.
Witness then explained that the top part of the head was missing. The body was clad in a multi-coloured top and dark coloured tights.
Witness said that in his presence Corporal Hosanah examined the body. Corporal Hosanah then made a search of the suitcase and found one black gown and a sheet. Corporal Hosanah searched the outer part of the suitcase and in one other compartment he found a piece of red rope, one GBTI Early Saver’s Card, one GBTI Bank Book, One Republic of Guyana Passport, all bearing the name Neesa Lalita Gopaul.
Witness said that Cpl Hosnah took possession of the passport and the other articles found. Witness later escorted the body to the funeral parlour and then returned to the Police Station where he lodged the gown, sheet and suitcase along with the other articles with the subordinate officer in charge for safe keeping.
The witness said that he cut from the suitcase the rope which the suitcase with body was attached to dumbbells in the water below in a depth of about 4 feet.
The dumbbells, black gown, bloody looking sheet, rope and suitcase were tendered as exhibits in court yesterday and admitted in evidence.
Under cross-examination, Mr. Hanoman suggested to the witness Laundry that the police had the dumbbells in their possession before that day, but the answer was a denial.
Witness also denied that he had planted the dumbbells.
The trial is continuing.