Not guilty on kidnapping charge

Jairam Rampersad tearfully left the Hall of Justice yesterday after a nine-member jury found him not guilty of kidnapping.

When asked for a comment about the verdict, Rampersad said that he could not explain how he felt and that he was just “very happy.” The jury comprising four women and five men, deliberated for two hours before relating the verdict to Justice Malcom Holdip at the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court. Rampersad was charged with kidnapping Merlinda Lennard on September 24 1999. Lennard claimed that at about 4:30 pm that day, she was pulled into a car with Rampersad and two other men in front of Unique Book Store, Chaguanas. Lennard refused to comment on the verdict. Defence Counsel Larry Williams presented evidence that Rampersad was at home polishing trophies for a church convention at the time of the alleged kidnapping.

Rampersad in his testimony at High Court, said that at the time of his arrest he was living with Pastor Tilbanie Singh in Chaguanas. He said that on September 24, 1999, he left Pastor Singh’s house around 5.30 pm. He met a friend and they got into a maxi taxi. His friend exited the maxi taxi at Cunupia and Rampersad said he travelled to Curepe where he took another vehicle to the Arouca Tabernacle Church. Rampersad stated that he left the church at about 9.45 pm and got back to Pastor Singh’s house between 10.15 pm to 10.30 pm. He insisted that he had nothing to do with the kidnapping of Lennard. Following the verdict, Justice Holdip told Rampersad he was free to go.