Judge rules: Naraynsingh’s case stays in South

Justice Herbert Volney yesterday ruled that he was not "impressed" with the State’s arguments that flooding on the Caroni Bridge and the shortage of police officers justified transferring the case.

In giving his ruling yesterday, Volney said, "In a nutshell, the warrant that is sought to transfer will seek to defeat the very purpose for which is the objective of the legislation — to expedite trials in the interest of justice."

Special Prosecutor Dana Seetahal had also submitted to the judge on Tuesday in the San Fernando High Court that transferring the Naraynsingh case to Port-of-Spain would facilitate the majority of witnesses, one of whom (Junior Morris) is in the Witness Protection Programme. Seetahal also submitted that jurors who may sit in the trial, if it is heard in San Fernando, could have prejudices about certain witnesses in the matter.

Seetahal is leading Deputy DPP Carla Brown-Antoine in prosecuting the case in which Seeromani Maraj-Naraynsingh and businessman Elton Ramasir are charged with the June 29, 1994, murder of Dr Chandra Naraynsingh. Maraj-Naraynsingh is the third wife of prominent vascular surgeon Prof Vijay Naraynsingh, whose second wife was Chandra.

Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC, who is defending Ramasir, had argued that the DPP’s warrant of transfer would further frustrate the order of the court and amount to an abuse of power. Maharaj submitted that Ramasir and Naraynsingh have a statutory right to have their case tried in the San Fernando Assize Court.

In refusing the State’s application yesterday, Volney said he would provide a written ruling on the issue.

Today, the judge will continue hearing arguments on another legal issue which is being heard in-camera and which cannot be reported by the media.