– case not likely to end at January sessions
THE Ogle 4-man murder trial voir dire (a trial within a trial) which began on January 12, celebrated its 60th day of hearing yesterday.
And there is the likelihood that the substantive case will not be completed during the January sessions which end on March 31 and will have to go over to the April sessions.
Lawyers involved in the matter are concerned that no more than one case on the judge’s list (the Ogle murder) will engage the court for the entire session…leaving a balance of 65 cases that were listed to be heard.
Since the case was called on January 12, Leading State Prosecutor did not resort to deliver the traditional opening address but embarked on a voir dire that included a set of small trials, relating to application by the State for additional evidence and for the judge to conduct separate voir dire to determine the admissibility of four alleged caution statements by the accused.
So far, Justice Brassington Reynolds has completed two voir dire and was in the process yesterday of completing the 3rd voir dire.
After this exercise the judge is expected to rule on the other small trials before considering the possibility of a fourth voir dire as requested by the prosecutor.
This last voir dire is to be followed by the substantial trial of the accused 17 year olds Christopher Dhanrad, also known as Paul Jagnandan, Azim Khan, Vijay Rajkumar called ‘Eon’ and Kumar Seeraj nicknamed ‘Boysie’.
They are indicted for the unlawful killing of Teddy Smith on October 24, 2004.
They are being represented by defence counsel Hukumchand, Kamini Parag, Euclin Gomes and Adrian Thompson.
State Prosecutor Ganesh Hira is associated with Miss Latchmie Rahamat and Rhondel Weever.
On the resumption on Thursday morning when the voir dire was continued, Rajwattie Jagnandan, the mother of the No. 1 accused, was called as a witness in the voir dire to support her son’s story.  She completed her evidence.
Attorney-at-law Mr. Gomes is waiting to address the judge in the closing stage of the third voir dire.
Following this exercise, the judge is expected to rule on the other voir dire before considering whether to undertake the 4th voir dire.
Of Justice Brassington’s list of 66 cases for the January session, only one case has so far been tackled.
The cases that are not expected to be reached, include 16 murders,  10 manslaughters, 6 attempted murders,  6 causing grievous bodily harm, 12 carnal knowledge,  10 rape, 3 buggery, 2 narcotic and  4  causing death by dangerous driving.
The rest of the panel of jurors who are expected to return to court this week are expected to be discharged.
It will be remembered that the January sessions end on March 31st this year and plans are already being made for the April sessions.
The hearing of the third voir dire continues on Monday. The substantive trial is still to take place.