DEFENCE and prosecution lawyers in the Seelall Pharbu manslaughter trial will make their final addresses to the jury today.Thereafter, Madam Justice Jo-Ann Barlow will fix the time when she would sum up the case to the jury before handing the case over to them for consideration and verdict.

Last Monday, Madam Justice Barlow admitted in evidence an alleged statement the accused had made, claiming that he was the licensed owner of a gun which had gone off accidentally while he was attempting to clean the weapon.

The jury heard that Pharbu had unlawfully killed Premaul Rampersaud, called ‘Romel’, on Sunday, November 13, 2011. Defence counsel Mr Glenn Hanoman had objected to the statement, which had led to the judge holding a voir-dire (a trial within a trial) to determine the issue. During the trial, witnesses testified that, on the day in question, they had heard two bangs, which had left Rampersaud dead and the accused armed with a gun.

The result was that Seelall had subsequently been indicted by the State for manslaughter.

Prosecutrix Miss Shonette Austin is conducting the case for the prosecution. The hearing is continuing.