Murder trial takes exam break

In the middle of the Barataria murder trial, the court was forced to take a one-week adjournment yesterday to facilitate two jurors who will be writing examinations throughout next week. In addition, one of the senior police officers Supt Allan Crooks, will be in Jamaica on Monday for an examination. Hearing will resume on June 14 in the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court. When announcing the unprecedented long adjournment, Justice Rajendra Narine renewed his warning to the jury of seven women and five men, plus three alternates, not to discuss the case with anyone. He noted that Trinidad was a small place and people may be tempted to discuss the case with them, but they must resist and walk away.

Garvin Sookram, aka “Bean,” John Wayne Alleyne, aka “Bumbles,” Junior Sookram, aka “Country,” Hassan Sanchez and Ronald Gaskin, aka “Doom,” are before Justice Narine charged with the murder of Barataria handyman Roger Alexander, aka “One Arm,” on August 19, 2000 at Saw Mill Avenue in Barataria. Legal arguments, which started on Wednesday, took all of yesterday to complete. During Thursday’s submissions, there were several clashes between senior State prosecutor Jeron Joseph and defence attorney Keith Scotland. Justice Narine had to intervene on several occasions during the legal swashbuckling of the two attorneys.

Yesterday’s submissions from both parties were also hotly contested, but not as aggressively as the day before. Garvin Sookram is being defended by Pamela Elder SC and Owen Hinds Jr, Alleyne by Charles  and Elvis O’Connor, Junior Sookram by Sean Cazabon and Dawn Mohan, Sanchez by Keith Scotland and Michelle Solomon, and Gaskin by Margaret Rose and Richard Mason. The State is being represented by former deputy DPP Rangee Dolsingh SC and Jeron Joseph.