Junior Morris testifies

JUNIOR MORRIS, the much anticipated State’s star witness in the Preliminary Inquiry into the murder of Dr Chandra Naraynsingh, took the witness box in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court and testified for two and a half hours, yesterday. Well-known urologist Prof Vijay Naraynsingh, his wife Seeromani and businessman Elton Ramasir, are before the courts charged with the murder of the professor’s previous wife. Morris is among 15 witnesses who have since testified for the State since the inquiry began last month.

Dr Naraynsingh was gunned down outside her workplace at the Langmore Health Foundation in 1994. All eyes in the courtroom were fixed on Morris as he gave evidence for nearly two and a half hours in the First Court. On more than one occasion, witness Morris and Prof Naraynsingh glanced at each other during the testimony. Before Morris was brought into the courtroom, the defence raised last-minute objections to the star witness being called to testify. Queen’s Counsel Karl Hudson-Phillips asked magistrate Wellington to allow Morris’ testimony deferred on the ground that the prosecution was yet to disclose certain documents to the defence pertaining to the witness. The request for such documents were made since December 24 2004, Hudson-Phillips told the magistrate.

“It is important for you to know whether this person was detained at Remand Centre at the same time as another principal witness for the prosecution... and if there be a possible collaboration,” Hudson-Phillips told the magistrate. Gaspard replied that the prosecution’s discretion of disclosure could not be controlled by a magistrate. Magistrate Wellington agreed then signalled for Morris to be brought into the courtroom. Hearing continues  tomorrow at 10.15 am when Morris is expected to continue his evidence.