Woman, businessman arrested

MORE THAN ten years after the brutal murder of Dr Chandra Narayansingh, a woman and a San Fernando businessman were arrested at their respective homes yesterday by officers of the Homicide Bureau. Up until last night the two were being questioned for the June 29, 1994 murder. The woman was arrested at her home in Central Trinidad around 6.30 am, while the businessman, 50, was held around 7 am at his San Fernando home. The two were taken to the Homicide Bureau in Port-of-Spain where they were questioned by ASP Nadir Khan. The woman later contacted her attorneys Prakash Ramadhar and Larry Lalla, while the businessman alerted his attorney Vishwanath Rambaran. The three lawyers later went to the Homicide Bureau where they conferred with their clients. Sources revealed that the woman appeared cool and calm after being detained, but became emotional while in custody.

She was first detained by Homicide officers on July 7, 2000 and taken to the Homicide Bureau in San Fernando, where she was questioned in the presence of a battery of lawyers. She was later released. Five years and 11 months after the murder, Sean Parris was charged with the murder. Dr Narayansingh was shot dead while sitting in her car outside her workplace, the Langmore Health Foundation, Palmyra Village, San Fernando on the afternoon of June 29, 1994. The 38-year-old doctor, who practised naturopathic medicine, died at the scene. Senior officers told Newsday the investigation into the murder of Dr Narayansingh was kept open, even after Sean Parris was sentenced to life imprisonment on the lesser count of manslaughter. They added that Parris had identified persons who plotted with him and paid him $10,000 to kill Dr Narayansingh. In his statement to the police, Parris even described a woman whom he said wanted Dr Narayansingh dead.

The murder inquiry into the death of Dr Narayansingh started on November 14, 2000. Twenty witnesses were called to testify at the preliminary inquiry. On February 19, 2001, the preliminary inquiry ended. On Wednesday April 1, 2003, Parris was given one month to retain an attorney. On May 15, 2003, Parris rejected six legal aid lawyers, prompting the state to appoint a defence team. Keith Scotland, instructed by Larry Williams, was appointed to represent Parris. On December 1, 2003, Parris was committed to stand trial for the murder. On February 3, 2004 the trial got underway.  On February 12, 2004, Parris, the confessed assassin of Dr Narayansingh was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole before at least 30 years of the sentence is served. Relatives of Dr Narayansingh said yesterday, they were pleased with the status of the police investigations.