Court visits crime scene

THE Blue Basin murder trial yesterday resumed on the bank of the river where the alleged murder of Polly Ramnarine took place on March 8, 2001. A convoy transporting the court rolled into Blue Basin Road shortly before 10 am, attracting the attention of curious residents. Justice Rajendra Narine, donning a pair of black sneakers, was accompanied down a muddy track by the jurors, the accused Ronald Tiwarie, defence attorneys Odai Ramischand and Thomas Cun-ningham, State attorney Jeron Joseph, court officials, witnesses, the media and a party of police officers.

A handcuffed Tiwarie, wearing a pair of blue rubber slippers was secured between two police officers. Getting to the scene of the crime involved a five-minute hike and crossing a shallow river. Fortunately there were rocks strategically jutting out along the width of the river bed. At the scene, State witnesses Meena Ramnarine, Nia Adams, Sgt Anthony Lezama, WPC Elizabeth Derrell and brother of the accused, Dave Tiwarie, were called on to point out certain areas that were of importance to the case. Meena, the daughter of the deceased, was nine years old at the time of the murder and had reportedly witnessed the accused attacking her mother shortly before she (Polly) had been found lying face down in the river. 

The court then made its way to the nearby home of the accused, which he had not seen in over three years, and then up a steep, muddy track to the house of the deceased. Suddenly, the rains came down, forcing everyone to scamper for shelter. Some police officers even sought refuge under fig leaves. When the showers stopped, the court was led along the Blue Basin Road to “Nia’s parlour,” where Meena had gone to seek help on the fateful day. The trial will resume at the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court tomorrow.