Judge to rule on legal submissions tomorrow

When the murder case of former Government Minister Dhanraj Singh was called yesterday, his attorney Karl Hudson-Phillip QC, informed the court that there were certain issues concerning  evidence that he wanted to raise. Hudson-Phillip made his submissions which were rebutted by the State’s lead prosecutor,  British Queen’s Counsel Sir Timothy Cassel. Arguments from both sides lasted about five hours. Justice Paula Mae Weeks, presiding in the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court, indicated that she will give her ruling on Friday. During Sir Timothy’s submission, the Court’s fire alarm sounded and Justice Weeks had to ask the police to determine whether it was anything to be concerned about. It was a false alarm.

Dhanraj appeared upbeat and was smiling. Sometimes he  waved to relatives who included his wife Leela, and mother, Sheila. Dhanraj is charged with the murder of Hansraj Sumairsingh, who was the chairman of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation. Sumairsingh, 45, was shot to death at his Mayaro beach house on Old Year’s Day, 1999. The State is alleging that Singh, who was then the Minister of Local Government, ordered the hit on Sumairsingh. Sir Timothy leads Assistant DPP Devan Rampersad.,Prosecutors  Angelica Teelucksingh and Sharon Raphael, while Hudson-Phillip is assisted by Ravi Rajcoomar and Jennifer Hudson-Phillip.