Policeman pleads guilty to attempted manslaughter

A “PH” taxi-driver who was shot in the neck by a policeman in San Fernando three years ago told a San Fernando High Court judge yesterday that he had forgiven the officer and did not  want him to go to jail.

The sentiments of Vishnu Hansraj Ramdath were expressed through State prosecutor Brahmanand Dubay, in the San Fernando Third Criminal Assizes, where former San Fernando City Corporation officer, PC Krishna Jaikaran was on trial on a charge of attempted murder. On Tuesday, Jaikaran pleaded guilty to the lesser count of attempted manslaughter. However, Dubay told trial judge Justice Malcolm Holdip yesterday, that Ramdath, although suffering some loss of hearing in his left ear, had forgiven PC Jaikaran and did not wish for a custodial sentence to be passed on the accused. Jaikaran’s attorney Subhas Panday then told the court the victim had accepted an offer of $50,000 compensation from the accused, to which Dubay informed the court, Ramdath was yet to receive that sum of money.

Yesterday, Panday in a stirring mitigation plea, described the incident as “a blotch on his (Jaikaran’s) career.” Panday also brought four character witnesses, who said they knew the accused to be a “calm and collective” and religious individual. The four character witnesses were Jaikaran’s former supervisor ASP (San Fernando Municipal Division) Sidney Corbett, San Fernando Fire Headquarters’ Sub-Station Officer Ramchand Singh, Jaikaran’s neighbour, TT Defence Force employee Fazad Ojeer and Jaikaran’s childhood friend, Justice of the Peace Hamid Mohammed.  ASP Corbett said he considered Jaikaran a role-model, who received many commendations during his 27 years of service, including an award for service during the 1990 coup attempt. JP Mohammed, who has known the accused for some 45 years, said that in 1994 he and Jaikaran were recommended by community groups for the position of Justice of the Peace, but Jaikaran turned down the position to continue working in the Police Service. 

The State’s case against Jaikaran, 54, is that on March 27, 2000, Ramdath was operating his private car for hire (PH) on Coffee Street, San Fernando, when PC Jaikaran saw him making an illegal U-turn in the middle of the road. Jaikaran ordered Ramdath to stop his vehicle, telling him he would receive a court summons for the traffic offence committed. Ramdath asked the policeman for a chance, to which Jaikaran replied, “I am just doing my job.” As the taxi-driver was about to drive away, Jaikaran again stopped Ramdath, this time accusing him of driving the vehicle so as to hit him (Jaikaran). Jaikaran proceeded to draw his service revolver and shot Ramdath on left side of his neck. The court heard that Jaikaran told ASP Gopiechand Ganga that Ramdath drove the car at him and he became fearful for his life. Holdip postponed sentencing for next Wednesday, saying he needed time to reflect on the case.