Judge to rule Monday on legal submissions

Justice Melville Baird will on Monday deliver a very important decision on legal submissions by attorneys in the Dhanraj Singh murder trial. The results of the judge’s ruling will determine whether or not the jury trying Singh for murder, will begin hearing evidence from witnesses. The ruling, to be delivered at 9 am in the San Fernando First Assize Court, followed two weeks of legal submissions before Justice Baird with the jury out of court and hearing.

Singh is charged with the murder of Hansraj Sumairsingh, chairman of the Rio Claro/Mayaro Regional Corporation. The murder is alleged to have been committed between December 31, 1999 and January 1, 2000. The judge has sequestered the jury comprising eight men and four women, including one alternate juror at a hotel in Port-of-Spain for the duration of the trial. When hearing resumed yesterday, British Queen’s Counsel Timothy Cassel who is prosecuting Singh on behalf of the State, wound up his submission of legal arguments. The submissions were made in reply to issues raised by attorneys defending Singh. Cassel is leading acting assistant DPP Davan Rampersad and State Attorney Angelica Teelucksingh for the prosecution.

Upon Cassel’s completion shortly before midday yesterday, the defence was given the opportunity by Justice Baird to reply. Attorney Ravi Rajcoomar commenced and continued until 5 o’clock in the afternoon. Karl Hudson Phillips, QC, who is leading the defense team, has taken temporary leave from the case to be sworn in as a judge of the International Criminal court. He is due to return this week. He is leading Rajcoomar, and attorneys Prakash Ramadhar and Jennifer Hudson Phillips. When proceedings closed yesterday, Justice Baird said he will study the arguments over the weekend and deliver a written ruling. The jury would be brought back to the court on Monday.