Accused arrested in a camp

The evidence about Baboolal’s arrest was read to the jury from a document which both the State and the defence agreed to. The prosecution last week closed its case and Baboolal, 41, of Mayaro, was on Wednesday called upon to make his defence in a trial in which he is alleged to have murdered Ria Ramlochan, 26, and her 18-month-old baby, Ishmael Timothy Ragbir between August 10 and 13, 2005, at Solomon Street, Mayaro. When the trial resumed yesterday before Justice Althea Alexis-Windsor in the San Fernando High Court, attorney Rekha Ramjit, who is defending Baboolal, called Dr Maniram Rampaul, a general medical practitioneer in Rio Claro. He testified that on August 17, 2005, he had attended to Baboolal at his office and found there were no injuries. It is the State’s case that on that day, the accused was charged with the murders.

The Judicial Support Officer then read the document to the judge and jury that on Sunday August 14, 2005, Inspector George, Sgt Hamid and Cpl Garcia, went to Torib Trace, New Grant, Tabaquite, where they met accused Baboolal in a camp behind a sawmill. They arrested him on an outstanding warrant relating to non-payment of fines, the court heard.

Alexis-Windsor told the jury that today when the trial resumes, attorney Ramjit will begin her address to them. On Monday, Senior State Shabaana Shah, who is leading State Attorney Chantal Hospedales, will address them and on the following day the judge will sum up the case. If the judge completes her summation on that day, the jury will be requested to retire to consider a verdict