Cop jailed 7 years for attempted murder

SAN FERNANDO City Corporation Police Constable Krishna Jaikaran abused his position of authority by shooting a “PH” taxi driver who committed a minor traffic offence. In issuing this statement, Justice Malcolm Holdip sentenced Jaikaran, 54, now retired from the Police Service, to seven years imprisonment with hard labour for shooting Vishnu Hansraj Ramdath in the neck at Coffee Street, San Fernando, three years ago. The sentence handed down by the judge in the San Fernando High Court resulted in Jaikaran losing his entire pension and gratuity for 27 years of police service. Jaikaran had been on suspension since May, 2000, when he was charged with attempted murder. At the start of the trial, Jaikaran on advice from his lawyer, pleaded guilty to the charge of attempted murder, a plea which was accepted by the State.

On the afternoon of March 27, 2000, Jaikaran was on duty at the Diamond Village taxi stand, Coffee Street, when he saw Ramdath make an illegal U-turn in the middle of the road, in order to secure a parking spot on the stand. Ordering him to stop, Jaikaran spoke to Ramdath about the offence, to which Ramdath asked the policeman for a chance. Jaikaran asked Ramdath to produce his Driver’s Permit and Certificate of Insurance. He also told Ramdath that he can issue a summons for him to attend court. But Ramdath, the judge said in recounting the facts, drove off and then stopped, almost striking the policeman in the process.  It was then Jaikaran bent over to Ramdath’s front passenger side, whipped out his revolver and poking his head into the car, fired a shot from his service revolver. Justice Holdip said the bullet penetrated Ramdath’s neck and exited through the other side. The judge said that it was by a sheer miracle that Ramdath lived and did not suffer permanent debilitating injuries, as was proven by a medical report tendered to the court.

The trial began last week, but after two days of testimony the policeman pleaded guilty on the advice of his attorney Subhas Panday, to attempted murder. Ramdath is unable to hear properly in his left ear as a result of the gunshot wound. Panday, instructed by his daughter, attorney Anuusha Panday, conducted a stirring plea in mitigation during which he called several prominent character witnesses on Jaikaran’s behalf. Justice Holdip told Jaikaran that good character would have a mitigating effect, but was not an entitlement to reduction in sentence. Saying that all the decided local cases meted out custodial sentences from 12 and 25 years for attempted murder, Justice Holdip told Jaikaran that his case was one in which he abused his position as a policeman. “Here a civilian commits a traffic offence and the reaction of the policeman is to fire his service revolver. This is something that cannot be tolerated. I cannot send the wrong message in this incident, the victim has to thank the Heavenly Father... it’s remarkable he did not die from this bullet wound.” Considering Jaikaran’s age and his guilty plea, Justice Holdip ordered the former cop to serve seven years in jail with hard labour. Jaikaran’s children who sat in court, broke down in tears as their father was handcuffed and led out of court.