Accused to call witnesses

Yesterday, the State requested to reopen the prosecution’s case and before Justice Althea Alexis-Windsor, nine criminal convictions chalked up by Baboolal, 41, of Mayaro, were read to the 12-member jury. Senior state attorney Shabaana Shah, in reading the convictions, said that on January 21, 1998, Baboolal was sentenced to five years in jail for house-breaking and larceny.

He had eight other convictions on December 12, 2002 for larceny in which he was sentenced to three years in the case of one of those charges, and 36 months on the other seven. Shah then announced that the State’s case against Baboolal was closed.

The State called 12 witnesses in all against Baboolal who is alleged to have stabbed 26-year-old Ria Ramlochan to death at her Solomon Street, Mayaro home on a day between August 10 and August 14, 2005. Her body was found in a latrine pit nearby. Ramlochan’s 18-month-old son Ishmael Timothy Ragbir, was discovered on the banks of the Ortoire River in Mafeking Village, Mayaro.

The child was stabbed several times and one of his ears cut off.

When sanitation employees from the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation took out Ramlochan’s body from the pit, it was covered in faeces and there were holes in the chest.

Baboolal was yesterday asked to stand in the dock where the Judicial Support Officer told him that the case for the prosecution was closed and he could now make his defence. His choices, according to the officer, was to stay in the dock or give evidence on oath and call witnesses. Baboolal said he will stay in the dock but will call witnesses.

Attorney Rekha Ramjit who is being instructed by Gina Ramjohn, stood next to the dock as the court noted the accused man’s intention to have witnesses testify in his defence.

Justice Alexis-Windsor told the jury that it was Baboolal’s right not to testify, if he so chooses and therefore they ought not to form any adverse opinion about it.

An accused person remaining silent, the judge reiterated, is a right.

The first witness on behalf of Baboolal is expected to testify today.