Defence blasts State for delay

PROMINENT surgeon Prof Vijay Naraynsingh yesterday made his first appearance in court to answer a charge of murdering his wife, Dr Chandra Naraynsingh, in 1994. His current wife Seeromanie, and San Fernando auto parts businessman Elton Ramasir, who are jointly charged for the murder, made their third appearance yesterday. The trio appeared to be calm and in good spirits as they stood before Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington in the First Court, which was packed to overflowing with relatives of the accused persons, curious onlookers and a contingent of senior doctors who came to lend support to Prof  Naraynsingh. Up to 10.30 am, the matter had not been called and this gave the curious, ample time to catch a glimpse of the accused before being ordered to stop blocking the entrances and exits of the courtroom. As Mrs Naraynsingh made her way to court in handcuffs, she was greeted by some women, one of whom managed to shake the accused woman’s hands.

Mrs Naraynsingh appeared in court dressed in a black suit, while her husband wore a blue suit complete with shirt and tie. The husband and wife spoke to each other before the start of the case. Even Prof Naraynsingh’s daughter Anamika was in court yesterday to hear the charge — that her father murdered her mother — read out in court by the magistrate. Anamika, who was calm throughout the proceedings, spoke to her stepmother before the start of the case. San Fernando General Hospital senior doctors, including  Dr Jehan Ali (head of gynaecology), Dr Steve Boodram (head of surgery), Dr Shivanand Gopeesingh (orthopaedic surgeon) and Port-of-Spain gynaecologist Hemant Persad, sat with UWI senior lecturer in medicine David Picou and Pundit Ravi Ji in the public gallery.

Assistant Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard, appeared for the State while Prakash Ramadhar and Ravi Rajkumar represent the Naraynsingh couple. Vish Rambaran and Larry Lalla are counsel for Ramasir. Ramadhar renewed his call for the State to be ready to start the proceedings. “I hope and expect that Gaspard has his first witness,” Ramadhar stated. In response, Gaspard said the State was not yet ready since the file would be sent to the office of the DPP within the next two weeks. “My colleague knows there is a procedure to follow like any other matter. I do not see why it should be truncated, or why they (accused) should be treated differently.

I don’t see any extraneous circumstances involved. Certain matters of disclosure are involved. Letters have been sent to the State,” Gaspard said. Ramadhar contended that this was clearly a sign that the State had no sight or control of the case, but Gaspard replied that he did not wish to argue with his colleague. “The allegation is more than ten years old. Vijay is a man of great eminence. It is complete unfairness to my client. Both himself and his wife’s photographs have been displayed on television and in the newspapers. They are persons of utmost charm and I want this exposed immediately,” Ramadhar stated. The State was then advised by the magistrate to have witnesses present on Monday so the matter could begin.  The three accused were remanded into custody. The matter is set for trial on Monday at 1.15 pm.