Talparo man freed of killing co-worker

AFTER DELIBERATING for just 20 minutes, a 12- member jury yesterday returned a not guilty verdict in favour of Talparo resident Ruben John, who was before High Court Judge Prakash Moosai for chopping a co-worker to death in March 1999. The jury retired at approximately 12.45 pm following a three hour and 20 minute summation by Justice Moosai, in which he went over the evidence presented by both the defence and State attorneys. Following the verdict, John quickly left the Hall of Justice stating that he had “no comment” to make to the media concerning the matter. The evidence before the court was that John, 33, of Talparo Main Road, was employed at a farm in the area. The deceased, Michael Estrada, was also employed at the farm. On March 18, 1999, the deceased came to the workplace at around 6.30 am and asked for a cutlass.

According to John, he was surprised that Estrada was there since he was not scheduled to work that day. Estrada then took John’s bicycle without permission and when Estrada returned 20 minutes later an argument broke out between the two. Both Estrada and John were armed with cutlasses and Estrada challenged John stating “if you bad, rush me nah,” and walked away. John followed Estrada to the back of the yard, and told him “Michael, you must not get on so, is my bike.” Shortly afterward, Estrada allegedly picked up his cutlass and started hitting the grass with it while saying “my mother never mind me.” Estrada then walked towards John and slapped him, and it was at this point that John fired the chops at Estrada. John also explained that he was not sure where Michael had received the first chop. However, he knew that he had fired the second chop at Estrada’s neck and the third chop was “wild.” He also told the court that Estrada and his brother David harassed him regularly. The State was represented in the matter by Debbie-Ann Bassau, while John was represented by SC Theodore Guerra and Richard Mason.