JP testifies in Mayaro murder trial

This was the testimony on Thursday of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Moses Charles who was called by the State to testify in the Mayaro Murder Trial.

He told the jury that he had obtained instructions from the then Director of Public Prosecutions to lay the charge after he collected all the evidence in the case.

Charles was led in evidence by Senior State attorney Shabanna Shah and he said that when he told Baboolal at the Rio Claro Police Station that he would be charged, the accused replied, “Only thing ah have to say is ah stab she by mistake but ah doh know anything about the lil boy.” The trial of Baboolal, of Pierreville, Mayaro, is being heard in the San Fernando High Court before Justice Althea Alexis-Windsor and a jury of 12 members.

On Thursday, after Charles and Justice of the Peace Sankar Mahabirsingh gave evidence, the State closed its case.

Ramlochan, 26, who lived with her son Ishmael Timothy Ragbir at Solomon Street, Mayaro, was stabbed and her body discovered in the family’s latrine pit on August 14. Her child was also stabbed several times. JP Mahabirsingh testified that on August 16, he was summoned to the Rio Claro Police Station and was introduced to Baboolal whom he questioned about whether he had been forced or beaten to give a statement and the accused replied that he was not. However, the Justice of the Peace said that the accused Baboolal did told him that he was fearful of his life because the ‘girl’ family was a prison officer.

He went on to testify that Baboolal said that he could neither read nor write and preferred someone to write the statement for him.

Shah is being assisted by State Attorney Chantal Hospedales in the prosecution of the case.

Mahabirsingh testified that during the taking of the statement, Baboolal asked for it to be read over to him and questions were asked of him by police detectives and Baboolal answered. “Baboolal did not change anything in the statement.

He signed the statement after which I affixed my signature.

He further testified that after the statement was written, Baboolal said that he did not wish to change anything. The accused, he said, had also signed the interview notes which the detectives had made when they had questioned him about the the murders.

The trial continues on Monday. Attorney Rekha Ramjit who is instructed by her daughter Gina Ramjohn, is defending Baboolal.