IN THE COOL Square murder trial ongoing before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and a 12-member jury in the High Court, several witnesses testified on Tuesday that, after numerous attempts, they could not locate two witnesses.
As such, submissions were made for the depositions to be admitted and tendered as evidence in the case.
The testifying witnesses, among whom were Detective Sergeant Rodwell Sarabo, Miguel Sands, Detective Constable Deonarine; and Communications Officer attached to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Nazeela Rahaman, told the court that they had exhausted efforts to locate the two witnesses who were scheduled to testify in the trial.
The missing witnesses are Tiana Cumberbatch, ex-girlfriend of the accused, and Linden Shirley,
then security guard attached to the Cool Square Hotel. The witnesses said they checked and re-visited the addresses given by the court to locate the witnesses, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Notices were placed in the newspapers, radio messages were announced and advertisements on television were also placed, without success.
The murder of businessman Imtiaz Roopnarine, called ‘Bobby’, of Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, took place on January 24, 2013 at the Cool Square Hotel in Marigold Street, West Ruimveldt Georgetown. Roopnarine was reportedly robbed and shot in the head during the ordeal. The victim was said to be wearing several pieces of expensive jewellery at the time.
After being shot, Roopnarine, 47, had run to the back of the hotel, where he collapsed and died near a septic tank. He had been preparing to leave the hotel moments before the incident.
The assailant had reportedly escaped with a gold-and-diamond chain worth $500,000, one gold band worth $700,000, and other jewellery, all priced at a total of $2,200,000.
Leon Duncan, called ‘Whistle’, of Willemstaad Road, Festival City, North Ruimveldt was subsequently arrested and charged for Roopnarine’s murder He has pleaded not guilty to the charge before Justice Sewnarine-Beharry and a 12-member jury which was empanelled at the High Court last month.
The case is being presented by State Prosecutors Stacey Goodings, Tuanna Hardy and Orinthia Schmidt, and the Defence Attorney is Mark Waldron.
