Seeromani and Ramasir were positively identified

AS SOON AS the State closed its case against Seeromani Maraj-Naraynsingh and businessman Elton Ramasir in the Dr Chandra Naraynsingh murder trial yesterday, the defence launched a number of legal arguments in the jury’s absence. When the trial resumes this morning, trial judge Herbert Volney will continue to hear legal submissions from Queen’s Counsel Karl Hudson-Phillips and Senior Counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj. Depending on how Volney rules on the submissions, Maraj-Naraynsingh and Ramasir may be called on to make their defence. They have the option to go into the witness box and testify on their behalf, or remain silent in the dock. Special State prosecutor Dana Seetahal told Volney yesterday that the State had closed its case after the prosecutor called Assistant Superintendent of Police, Nadhir Khan, to testify.

Khan, the police complainant in the case, was the 19th witness brought by the State to give evidence in the 13-year-old murder of Chandra, the second wife of prominent vascular surgeon Prof Vijay Naraynsingh. Chandra was gunned down on June 29, 1994, at her workplace — the Langmore Health Foundation at Palmyra Village, San Fernando. Maraj-Naraynsingh is the professor’s third wife.  Yesterday, Khan told Volney and a 12-member jury that Maraj-Naraynsingh and Ramasir were positively identified by two witnesses at an identification (ID) parade. That ID parade was conducted at police headquarters in Port-of-Spain on December 1, 2004. In the San Fernando High Court yesterday, Khan said when he learnt that Maraj-Naraynsingh had been positively identified, he cautioned her. And when he did so, the police complainant testified, Maraj-Naraynsingh replied, “This is wrong. These people, whoever they are, I do not know them. I have only heard their names but I have never seen them before.”

Khan told the court that when Ramasir was cautioned, he (Ramasir) replied, “I know nothing about this.”  Khan, who is attached to the Homicide Bureau, testified that on October 20, 2004, he and senior Supt of Police, Dyo Mohammed and Cpl Khemron Francis visited convicted prisoner Shawn Parris at Maximum Security Prison, Golden Grove, Arouca. Khan said he recorded a statement from Parris, and he then checked and verified certain information. He said he also recorded further statements from Parris on November 12 and 24, 2004. Khan told the court that on November 4, 2004, he recorded a written statement from witness Junior Morris at Morris’ father’s home at Fiona Street, Cocoyea.

The police complainant testified that he went to arrest Maraj-Naraynsingh at her home at Walker Street, Frederick Settlement, Caroni, at 5.52 am on November 29, 2004. He told the judge and jury that when he cautioned her, Maraj-Naraynsingh replied: “This was done before. This is so sad.” Khan recalled that when he arrested Maraj-Naraynsingh, he took her to police headquarters where he conducted an interview. After informing her that she had to be placed on an ID parade, Khan testified that he charged Maraj-Naraynsingh because she had been positively identified.

Cross-examined by Hudson-Phillips, Khan was asked to view a certified document from the Chief Immigration Officer concerning  flight information for Prof Naraynsingh dated June 1994. The document, the court heard, revealed that the professor had departed the country on June 19, 1994 and returned on June 25, 1994. Hudson-Phillips said that the document meant that Prof Naraynsingh had left the country four days before Parris came out of prison on June 23, 1994. The trial continues today.