FORMER policeman and murder accused, Ruel Brandon walked out of the Georgetown High Court a free man on Wednesday when Justice Nareshwar Harnanan upheld submissions made by defence lawyer, Nigel Hughes, during a voir dire, that Brandon’s confession statement should not be admitted into evidence.
Following the Judge’s decision, the State did not offer further evidence and the jury was then directed to return a formal not guilty verdict. Brandon, who is now a taxi driver, was on trial for the 2015 murder of seaman, Davonan Sookram called “Tall Man.”
A visibly relieved Brandon stepped out of the courtroom after his shackles and handcuffs were removed and hugged his wife and relatives. The State’s case was that between July 27 and 31, 2015, Brandon reportedly murdered Sookram at Ruby Backdam, East Bank Essequibo. The accused had pleaded not guilty to the offence. The State was represented by Lisa Cave, Siand Dhurjon and Shawnette Austin. A total of 10 witnesses testified at the trial.

Sookram’s decomposing body was found along the access road at Ruby, East Bank Essequibo, on July 31, 2015, four days after he went missing. According to police reports, Brandon who was familiar with Sookram and his family, picked up Sookram from home on July 27, 2015, and he was never seen alive again.Sookram’s wife had reported him missing and on July 31, 2015 she was speaking to the police at the Parika Station when they received information that a body was found.Police reported that at about noon on July 31, 2015, they received information that a decomposing body was observed along the access road at Ruby, with a suspected gunshot wound to the head. It was later identified to be that of the missing man, Sookram.Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh had testified that on August 3, 2015, he performed a post mortem on the body of Sookram, which was in an advanced state of decomposition.He said that from the circular wound on the right side of the back of the head, the cause of death was consistent with gunshot injuries. He also estimated the time of death to have been two to five days before the body was discovered.