Seeromani, Ramasir to go on trial Jan 3

The trial date, which is only four weeks away, was yesterday fixed by Justice Herbert Volney, who presided in a Cause List hearing in the San Fernando High Court.

The January 3 date was fixed by the judge after consultation with both Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson, representing the State, and attorneys for Maraj-Naraynsingh and Ramasir, who attended court yesterday.

In fixing the trial date, however, Volney told attorneys that his purpose for sitting in the Cause List hearing was only for the purpose of setting a date for the trial.

Addressing Henderson directly, the judge repeated his purpose for presiding in the Cause List hearing.

Volney then said, "Now, the purpose of this Cause List hearing is to set a date for the trial. Mr DPP, I wish to assure you that my function here in this Cause List hearing is for that purpose."

Henderson was the only attorney to represent the State at yesterday’s hearing. Seemingly addressing an issue over a letter written to the Registrar of the Supreme Court which reportedly objected to his (Volney’s) presiding over the Cause List hearing, the judge said yesterday that such an application should be made only on a principle of law.

Volney said, "As is the entitlement for every judge, presiding in matters whether civil or criminal, anyone can make an application on a principle of law why the presiding judge should recuse himself."

The defence attorneys for Maraj-Naraynsingh were announced to Volney, to be led by Queen’s Counsel Karl Hudson-Phillips. Former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC, who represented Ramasir, will defend the San Fernando businessman at the trial. It is the first time in ten years that Maharaj will appear in a criminal trial.

Sitting in the public gallery yesterday was Prof Vijay Naraynsingh who, earlier this year, was discharged for the murder of his second wife, Dr Chandra Naraynsingh. However, current wife Maraj-Naraynsingh and Ramasir, who were committed to stand trial for the murder 11 years ago, sat in a bench in the court.

Dr Chandra Naraynsingh was shot dead on June 29, 1994, outside her workplace at the Langmore Health Foundation, Palmyra Village, near San Fernando.

Yesterday, Volney sought to distance himself from an article in the Express, which he said, stated that he had not intended to step down from presiding over the pending murder trial despite attempts to block him from doing so. "Those are not my words," the judge said. "That does not represent the position of the court."

The calling of the case on the list in the First Criminal Assize came only five days after Henderson filed the indictment in the San Fernando Court office to bring the matter before a judge. The battery of defence attorneys — Maharaj, Prakash Ramadhar, Ravi Rajcoomar, Sophia Chote, Larry Lalla and Brian Dabideen, along with Prof Vijay Naraynsingh, began entering the courtroom at about 1.15 pm.

At 1.50 pm, Volney’s clerk entered the courtroom and spoke with the attorneys.

Henderson and defence attorneys proceeded into another courtroom. They remained there for about 35 minutes before returning to the First Criminal Court.