Court hears victim’s throat was slit

A 50-YEAR-OLD Couva man, who allegedly carried out a contract to kill a Freeport father of three, went on trial for murder in the San Fernando High Court yesterday. Zahid Mohammed of Nadir Trace in Preysal went on trial before Justice Herbert Volney for the killing of Narad Ramroop, whose throat was slit from ear to ear in a Caroni canefield three years ago. Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Joan Honore-Paul opened the State’s case by stating that Ramroop’s body was found on the morning of September 21 2001, in the vicinity of the Learning Resource Centre by two Caroni workers on their way to work. The 12-member mixed jury heard from the senior State attorney that four months after the killing, Mohammed’s cousin, Nassar Mohammed, went to the police and claimed he saw the knife attack on Ramroop. According to Nassar, the accused was allegedly hired by “the man’s wife” to kill Ramroop.

The accused’s cousin told police he and the accused met Ramroop at his home at Lime Head Trace in Chase Village, and the three went out in the Ramroop’s silver pick-up van. Nassar told police while Ramroop was driving, the accused, who was sitting behind him, pulled out a knife and slit Ramroop’s throat.  The relative said that as Ramroop tried to jump out of the vehicle, the accused tied a bandage around Ramroop’s neck and pulled him off the road. According to Honore-Paul, as Nassar was leaving the scene, he saw the accused dragging the man into the canefield. The jury heard from the State attorney that later that day Nassar went with the accused back to his Preysal home, where the accused threatened him and locked him out of the house. Four months later, Nassar went back to the accused and was again threatened, Nassar then went to the police.

Witness Charles Lalla, who was then the section manager of the Waterloo Section of Caroni (1975) Ltd, testified that he was called out to canefield number 457, where he saw a body in a crouched position and a pick-up van parked about five or six yards away. Police Insp Hilton Gopiecharan testified that when he visited the crime scene, he noticed the keys still in the ignition of the pick-up van, and the deceased was wearing a wrist watch. Insp Gopiecharan said he contacted the District Medical Officer, and also instructed the police photographer to take photographs of the scene. The accused is represented by attorney Chateram Sinanan. The case continues Monday.