State cross-examines its own witness

Cuffie Jack, 30, lived at Solomon Street, Mayaro, in 2005 close to murdered 26-year-old Ramlochan.

Justice Althea Alexis- Windsor and the 12-member jury in the San Fernando High Court, heard that Jack had given police a statement after the woman’s body was found in a latrine pit at her home and her 18-month-old son was discovered in the Ortoire River in Mafeking on August 14, 2005.

Anand Babooram, 41, also called “Son”, of Mayaro, has been charged with murdering Ramlochan and her son, Ishmael Timothy Ragbir.

Senior State Attorney Shabanna Shah questioned Jack about the statement he gave to police that he and a man named Andrew had gone to Ramlochan’s house on August 8, 2005. He replied in the negative.

Jack again replied “No Ma’am” to questions about his police statement in which he had said that Ramlochan gave him three postcards to give to Babooram, who he referred to as “Son”, after they had left her house on August 10, 2005.

Shah put it to Jack that he told police that he and Andrew met Babooram on the road that same night and he had handed him the postcards. This too was denied.

Shah made an application to Alexis-Windsor for the prosecution to be granted permission to cross-examine Jack. His attorney Rekha Ramjit, instructed by attorney Gina Ramjohn, did not object.

Jack also denied telling police that Babooram confronted him about collecting the cards. Shah referred Jack several times to what his police statement contained. He said he could not recall seeing Ramlochan on Wednesday 10th August, 2005.

He also denied that on the Saturday he saw police moving a body from Ramlochan’s home. “I can’t see from where I living,” Jack said.

The trial continues today.