Vijay charged with killing wife

PROMINENT vascular surgeon Prof Vijay Naraynsingh appeared in court late yesterday charged with the murder of his second wife, Dr Chandra Naraynsingh, more than ten years ago. It was touch-and-go yesterday as Homicide Bureau officers completed investigations which had resumed on Monday with the arrest of Dr Naraynsingh, his third wife Seeromanie, and San Fernando businessman Elton Ramasir on Monday. Seeromanie and Ramasir appeared in court on Thursday on the same charge, but Dr Naraynsingh, who was assisting the police, failed to attend an identification parade at 2 pm on Thursday and police went in search of him. He was picked up on Thursday night in the Maraval area and kept overnight.

Yesterday, he appeared on an ID parade at police headquarters after which he was charged by Asst Supt Nadir Khan of the Homicide Bureau. Because of the lateness of the laying of the charges, investigators had planned to call in a Justice of the Peace to police headquarters and remand Dr Naraynsingh into custody. However, things changed drastically within minutes and a decision was made to take the doctor before the court where a magistrate was waiting to sit. Shortly after 4.30 pm, Supt Martin Morrain, ASP Khan, and PC Louis Andrews placed Dr Naraynsingh in a grey unmarked vehicle and headed to the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court. The vehicle was parked on Knox Street, opposite the Red House, and Dr Naraynsingh was hustled into court.

At 4.45 pm, Dr Naraynsingh, who was dressed in a long sleeve maroon shirt and black trousers, appeared before Magistrate Andrew Stroude in the Fourth Court. The charge was read to the doctor who was not called on to plead. He is accused of killing Chandra Naraynsingh on June 29 1994 in Palmyra Village, San Fernando. There were several attorneys in court — Rangee Dolsingh SC, Prakash Ramadhar, Mandavi Tiwary, and Vish Rambaran. Ramadhar told the court that acting Insp Sahadeo Singh conducted yesterday’s ID parade in which he reportedly told attorney Chaitram Sinanan, “I am in charge of the ID parade, your objections will be noted and the ID parade will be proceeded with.” Ramadhar, who stated he was representing the doctor, complained about the fairness of the ID parade. He said the other persons who formed the line-up did not possess an appearance of Dr Naraynsingh. He said they were not of  similar height, size, hair, build and appearance.

He said the Clerk of the Peace, John Prince, was present during the ID parade and took a note of the objections by the attorney. Stroude noted Dolsingh sitting at the  table and enquired of his presence. Dolsingh said he represented the doctor and agreed with the submissions of the junior attorney. After a whisper from Dr Naraynsingh, Ramadhar said he was there as a “friend of the accused.” Dolsingh said that as far as he was aware, no one was hired as yet to represent the accused. Ramadhar intervened and said his instructions were that no team has yet been assembled to represent Dr Naraynsingh at the preliminary inquiry.

Newsday learnt that a very senior attorney will soon be at the doctor’s side. The matter was then transferred to the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. Because of the lateness of the hearing, the prison vans had already left the courthouse.  The plain clothes policemen agreed to take Dr Naraynsingh to the Port-of-Spain State Prison last night where he spent his first night in jail, but their problems had just started. The unmarked car refused to start, forcing the officers to escort Dr Naraynsingh on foot to police headquarters.  This attracted some measure of attention from people on their way home from work. Despite facing the public, Dr Naraynsingh maintained a smile until he was back in police custody.