Pathologist confirms two warheads found in body
THE Judge and jury in the Stewartville Robbery/murder trial yesterday heard Forensic Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh confirm that he had removed two warheads from the body of alleged murdered man Vishnu Santie. Earlier, Police Ballistics Expert Sergeant Eon Jackson had told Justice Franklyn Holder and the mixed jury that he had examined a .38 revolver, an exhibit of the court, and had found that it had been used to fire the bullets that were removed from the body of Vishnu Santie, who was shot and killed on Wednesday, 29th June, 2005.
Dr. Singh, who testified that he performed a post-mortem on the body of Vishnu Santie, recalled that he had found seven (7) gunshot wounds on the body, but had found neither soot nor residue around the wounds.
According to Dr Singh, had the deceased been shot from a distance of between 3 and 5 feet, one would have expected to find soot and residue.
The doctor said he could not remember whether he had placed the spent bullets in a labelled container or given them to the policeman who had witnessed the post-mortem for him to do the necessary.
He added, “If I say otherwise, I will be lying.”
The pathologist has given the cause of death as multiple injuries due to gunshot wounds.
On the resumption yesterday, the witness, Cane Harvester David Boucher, who was to be cross-examined, stood down in order to facilitate the doctor’s testimony.
The witness Boucher had testified that the number one accused — Satnanand Sahadeo, called ‘Boyso’ — had asked him to clean a gun which the accused had confessed to using to shoot Vishnu Santie during a robbery. Boucher said Boyso had also told him that, after the shooting, he had thrown the gun into a muddy drain and it had gotten soiled with mud; and because he knew that witness had knowledge in the cleaning of guns, he was asking him to clean same for him.
After Dr Singh’s testimony, the witness Boucher was subjected to cross-examination by defence counsels Mr. Hukumchand and Mr. George Thomas.
In answer to certain questions, witness admitted that there were some inconsistencies and omissions in his evidence.
Peter Ray Kassim, called ‘Donkey’, and Satnanand Sahadeo, called ‘Boyso’ are facing trial for the alleged murder of Vishnu Santie on Wednesday, June 29, 2006.
Mrs. Judith Gildharie-Mursalin, in association with Miss Renita Singh, is prosecuting.
The hearing is continuing.