Vijay’s wife in court for Chandra’s murder

SEEROMANIE NARAYNSINGH, wife of prominent surgeon Dr Vijay Naraynsingh, appeared in court yesterday charged with the murder of Naraynsingh’s previous wife — Dr Chandra Naraynsingh— more than ten years ago. Seeromanie, 45, a former teacher of Walker Street, Frederick Settlement, Caroni, and auto car dealer Elton Ramasir, 53, of Gulf View, La Romaine, appeared before Senior Magistrate Lianne Lee Kim in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Magistrates’ Court charged with Chandra’s murder on June 29 1994, at Palmyra Village, San Fernando. Dressed in a navy blue suit, Seeromanie appeared calm when she entered the dock ahead of Ramasir, who seemed more perturbed by the surroundings of a packed courtroom and numerous prisoners in the enclosed cage.

Magistrate Lee Kim read the charge to both prisoners, informing them that it was laid indictably and that they cannot plead. She also told them that a murder charge does not carry bail.
Seeromanie was represented by attorneys Prakash Ramadhar and Sophia Chote, while Vish Rambaran and Larry Lalla appeared for Ramasir. Defence attorneys agreed that the matter be transferred to the San Fernando First Magistrates’ Court today.
Before the case was put off, however, Ramadhar indicated he had something to say. He asked for the following:
1) All statements from the witness Shaun Parris.
2) The antecedents of all the prosecution witnesses.
3) The identification parade forms.
4) Copies of photographs taken at the ID parades on Wednesday.
5) Any other material in the possession of the State which may be of use to the defence in the preparation of this case.
6) The description report by Shaun Parris and any other witness identifying the accused.

Ramadhar condemned the manner in which the ID parade was conducted on his client on Wednesday. He said despite the objections of the team of lawyers, the police officers and the Justice of the Peace ignored them. “This was just a charade,” Ramadhar told the court. He said he spoke to investigating officer ASP Nadir Khan and informed him that Seeromanie was a public figure whose photograph was published in the media from time to time. He also described her as a singer. “This was a most incomprehensible and irresponsible attitude of the Director of Public Prosecutions, that after ten years, they would put my client on an ID parade.”

Ramadhar said Shaun Parris attended these parades — a man who just recently was afforded 30 years in prison for his role in Chandra’s death. “Here was a prisoner who came from the back of the prison to attend the ID parades. “I am certain that there are other prisoners plotting, by furnishing a hungry and thirsty police service with information against law-abiding citizens. They did so against Dole Chadee and Dhanraj Singh.  They live like presidents, they are given money, they are given escort. This is not frivolous, this is certainly an abuse of process,” Ramadhar added. No one from the office of the DPP was present in court yesterday.