Dhanraj Singh case interrupted

The Dhanraj Singh murder trial is being plagued with unexpected interruptions.

A juror who reported ill on Monday and caused hearing to be adjourned, continued to be sick yesterday and will not be able to return to court until next Monday, said a doctor’s report. But even as trial judge Justice Paula Mae Weekes moved to discharge that juror and replace her with the number one alternate, another problem forced the court to take an adjournment until tomorrow. As the State was about to call its last witness, Sgt Fitzgerald George, special prosecutor Sir Timothy Cassel QC informed the judge that George’s mother died yesterday and that he was in no condition to testify. It was also pointed out to the court that the funeral would be today. As a result, hearing was adjourned to tomorrow.  There was no objection from lead defence  attorney Karl Hudson-Philips QC, who immediately expressed condolences to the George’s family. Weekes also joined in the expression of compassion. Dhanraj Singh, a former government minister, is before the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court, charged with the murder of Hansraj Sumairsingh, former chairman of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation. The State is alleging that Dhanraj hired two hitmen to kill Sumairsingh. The contract was carried out on December 30, 1999, at Sumairsingh’s beach house at Eccles Road, Mayaro.

After replacing juror number 10, the State called three witnesses before taking the adjournment, bringing the number of State witnesses to testify so far to 17. The first to testify yesterday was Kelvin Delecia, the father of slain hitman Steve Cummings also called “Chen”. Chen was one of the two  hitmen who took the contract to kill Sumairsingh.  The other, Elliot Hypolite, turned State witness. Delecia told the court that his son Chen was not deceased. Trinidad Guardian reporter Donna Pierre, also testified for the State. Under cross-examination by Hudson-Phillips, she  said several other persons were present and that it was not a secret meeting. Supt Dawson Victor,  testified that he had executed a search warrant at the home of Dhanraj, at Hardbargain, Williamsville,  on January 2, 2000 and found a magazine for a 9mm pistol. Singh has a license for a 9mm firearm.