Magistrate gives ruling in Naraynsingh murder today

HEAVY security is expected in and around San Fernando Magistrates’ Court for today’s decision by deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington on whether or not well-known vascular surgeon Professor Vijay Naraynsingh, his wife Seeromanie and businessman Elton Ramasir will stand trial before a judge and jury, for the murder of Naraynsingh’s previous wife — Dr Chandra Naraynsingh. Wellington will arrive at the courthouse this morning with armed police monitoring activities in and around the court, where he will give his critical decision at 10 am, in the First Court. Police sources told Newsday that Wellington would be afforded police security when he leaves the courthouse after the ruling.

The magistrate has the power to either commit the accused trio to stand trial at the next sitting of the Assizes or discharge them. Plain clothed police and officers from Special Branch will take up strategic positions inside the courtroom, police sources said.  Thorough security checks including electronic scanning for concealed weapons will be done on everyone entering the courthouse. Attorneys involved in the preliminary inquiry (PI) as well as relatives of the Naraynsingh family will be allowed first into the courthouse. Special arrangements have been made to have Naraynsingh and Ramasir, who are transported to court in a prisoner-transportation panel van, arrive minutes earlier today at the courthouse from Maximum State Prison in Golden Grove, Arouca. Seeromanie will be  transported separately.

Today which is the 26th hearing of the PI, brings to end the second longest inquiry hearing for murder in the local courts. The first was the PI at Princes Town Magistrates’ Court in which Dole Chadee and nine others were eventually ordered to stand trial for the murder of a Williamsville family.  That inquiry lasted almost two months. At the end of the trial, Chadee and his gang were found guilty and were sent to the gallows. In the Naraynsingh PI, a total of 29 witnesses testified before Wellington who on Tuesday, heard closing addresses from deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard and a battery of defence attorneys headed by Karl Hudson Phillips QC.