Dhanraj on trial today

THE murder trial of former Government Minister Dhanraj Singh will begin today before Madame Justice Paula Mae Weeks in the Port-of-Spain Assizes. The State’s special prosecutor British Queen’s Counsel Sir Timothy Cassel was expected to have flown in from London last night. Both parties are expected to be ready to proceed with the trial today, since the court may not entertain any attempt to delay its  start. That means Sir Timothy may have to make his opening address after a jury is empanelled. 

Singh is charged with the 1999 Old Year’s Day murder of Hansraj Sumairsingh, then Chairman of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation. Sumairsingh, 45, a UNC councillor, was found shot at his Mayaro beach house. Singh, the former Minister in charge of  Local Government is accused of ordering Sumairsingh’s death. He is being defended by attorney Karl Hudson-Phillip QC, Prakash Ramadhar, Rajiv Persad and Jennifer Hudson-Phillip. Sir Timothy and Assistant DPP Devan Ramper-sad are prosecuting.