A MIXED 12-member jury was, on Tuesday, empanelled before Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Essequibo High Court for the trial of Naresh Baldeo, called “Blackboy”, who is accused of killing his drinking buddy in 2017.

Baldeo, formerly of Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, denied that on August 12, 2017, at Potaro Backdam, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), he murdered Mohabeer Gangadeen, 54, of Old Road, Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

The state is being represented by Prosecutor Tiffini Lyken while attorney-at-law, Latchmi Dindayal, is on record for the accused.

The trial is expected to commence on June 14, 2022.

According to police reports, both men were miners and worked together at Potaro Backdam, overseeing the operation of a dredge in an old mining pit.

It is alleged that, on the day in question, the men were consuming alcohol when they got into a physical confrontation. It is alleged that Gangadeen picked up a spade and dealt Baldeo several lashes about his hand, face and body.

It is alleged that Baldeo was able to take away the spade from Gangadeen and, after doing so, dealt him several lashes about his body, before pushing him overboard. Baldeo was later arrested and charged with the capital offence.