POLICE Sgt. Rawle Nedd yesterday told an assizes court that he and others were at the Ruimveldt Police Station on 4th October, 2010 when Assistant Supt. of Police Jessemy came in with a vehicle with Neesa Gopaul’s mother – Bibi Gopaul.

Neesa Gopaul was reported missing in October 2010 by a relative.

The 16-year-old schoolgirl’s mutilated body was found, on October 4, stuffed in a suitcase in a creek not far from the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. Following police investigations, Neesa’s mother, Bibi Gopaul, and Bibi’s alleged paramour Jarvis Small, were arrested and charged with murder.

They have pleaded not guilty to the indictment, and are being represented by well-known lawyers.

Testifying yesterday, Sgt. Nedd stated that on October 4, 2010 he was at Ruimveddt Police Station when ASP Jessemy drove in a vehicle with an East Indian woman whom he later learnt to be Neesa Gopaul’s mother, Bibi Gopaul.

The sgt. told a story about how he and other ranks visited a large house where there were two motor cycles and five suitcases. They searched the suitcases, but nothing of evidential value was found.

On leaving the first room, leading to the second room, there was a mattress in the hallway. There was a substance on the mattress which appeared to be blood. Witness said he took samples of the substance for laboratory examination. In another bedroom, he said, two black suitcases were found. They were examined, but nothing was found.

Witness also said he observed two zippers with a padlock. He then proceeded to a location in the bottom flat, where before entering a washroom, he examined the door. On the door, he observed an uncommon substance, like hair and chops on the door.

Witness said he also observed smelly items in a container which had soap powder or chemical.

The Sgt. said he also went into a bedroom, where he found a ward robe and a chest of drawers. On the chest of drawers, he found a quantity of suspected hair. He said he was informed by the female who joined the vehicle at Ruimveld Police Station that the bedroom was a child’s bedroom – Neesa Gopaul’s.

Witness said he went to a big bedroom, where he saw a small suitcase on the table. It was examined, and a black plastic handle knife was found with suspected blood stains on it.
Witness said the last room to be searched was Bibi Gopaul’s room. Noting of importance was found.

Witness said he and other ranks collected substances on the western wall and a golden cream margarine bucket with what appeared to be hair. The items were packed and labelled, and taken away for laboratory examination.

Witness identified the blood-stained mattresses and hair samples that the police had seized for examination.

Senior Counsel Mr. Bernard De Santos and Attorneys-at-law Messrs. Glenn Hanoman, Lynden Amsterdam, George Thomas and Ms Zanno Frank are representing the accused.

Prosecuting for the State are Ms. Diana Kaulesar-O’Brien, Ms. Mercedes Sampson, and Ms. Stacy Goodings.

The trial is continuing before Mr. Justice Navindra Singh, who is presiding.

By George Barclay