COME March 10, 2022, Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall is expected to sum up the evidence in the trial of Kurt “Banana” Erskine, who is acccused of murdering owner of the Regent Multiplex Mall, Ganesh “Boyo” Ramlall.

Erskine, formerly of Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, is currently on trial at the Demerara High Court for the capital offence of murder. He has denied that, on July 5, 2015, he murdered Ramlall during the course or furtherance of a robbery at La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara.

Special prosecutors Konyo Sandiford and Narissa Leander are presenting the State’s case, while attorney-at-law, Lyndon Amsterdam, is on record for the accused.

Following the summing up, the judge will hand over the case to the 12-member jury for the consideration of a verdict.

Erskine’s co-accused, Fezeel Bacchus, has been released from prison on time served after taking a plea for the lesser count of manslaughter.

On February 28, 2022, Bacchus was sentenced to six and a half years for his role in the fatal shooting. However, he was released from prison the following day due to him being on remand since July 2015.

Bacchus testified on behalf of the State in Erskine’s trial.

According to reports, the businessman had just returned home and was going to use the outside bathroom when he was confronted by four men who shot him about his body and relieved him of his licensed firearm, jewellery and wallet.

It was also reported that, after Ramlall saw the gunmen approaching him, he raised an alarm and called out to his relatives to secure the house.

The bandits successfully escaped. Ramlall was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Days later, police arrested Bacchus who confessed to being the getaway driver.