Hudson Phillips: State has no case

Saying it was the worst evidence he had heard in his 46-year career as a lawyer, Queen’s Counsel Karl Hudson-Phillips moved to launch a no-case submission in the preliminary inquiry into the murder of Dr Chandra Naraynsingh. Hudson-Phillips addressed the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court for more than an hour yesterday after the State closed its case, and Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington was asked to rule on whether the State had made out a prima facie case against Prof Vijay Naraynsingh. Attorney Prakash Ramadhar told the magistrate, “I ask your worship to deal with this (Hudson-Phillips’) submission first. It’s just the gravity of this submission — it’s extreme here. The gravity of Mr Hudson-Phillips’ submission is resounding on all of us and I am sure they are extremely serious.” 

However, Magistrate Wellington said he preferred to hear all the submissions from defence attorneys representing Prof Naraynsingh, his wife Seeromanie and businessman Elton Ramasir. The three are charged with the June 29, 1994, shooting death of Dr Chandra Naraynsingh, who was the professor’s second wife. Seeromanie was taken to court yesterday with a white “tika” on her forehead — a mark placed after Hindu prayers are done. Shortly before midday yesterday, after Ramadhar completed cross-examination of ASP Nadir Khan, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard told the magistrate the State’s case  was closed.

During Ramadhar’s questioning of Khan, however, the attorney told Wellington, “I am here to help the court understand what is transpiring in this case. My function here is to assist the court to see the investigation. I want to show the quality of investigations, and if any real investigations were conducted, and if conspiracies abound.” After Ramadhar completed his questioning, Gaspard also asked a few questions of Khan under re-examination. ASP Adam Joseph was also cross-examined by Ramadhar yesterday. Hudson-Phillips’ address hammered home his legal submission in an emotional tone. At one point, the Queens Counsel paused in his submissions and apologised to the magistrate for the outburst in his voice. “I regret I had to speak in such tones,” he said. After ten more minutes of submissions, Hudson-Phillips ended, “I tend to get emotional about these things. I shall take my seat.”