State witness reports death threats

ONE of the State’s main witnesses in the Saada Singh kidnapping Preliminary Inquiry yesterday told the Coroner that he received death threats by one of the four accused. This was revealed before Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington, who is hearing the inquiry in the First San Fernando Magistrates’ Court. State prosecutor Chris Seelochan said the witness, who is yet to give evidence in the inquiry, received the threats when he exited the court on the last date of hearing, November 25.

Seelochan told the court the alleged threat that the accused (name called) told the witness (name called) on two occasions was, “I have something for you.” The defence attorney for the particular accused then raised several questions about the alleged threats, saying the particulars ought to be disclosed because they could prejudice his client’s application for bail. Magistrate Wellington then excused the witness from testifying for the day, and advised him to make a report at the San Fernando Police Station. The witness will begin his testimony at the next hearing of the inquiry on January 5.

Johnathan Moonsammy, Kimberly Moonsammy, Colleen Osbourne and Keston Franklin are charged with kidnapping Saada, four, from her kindergarten school on June 3. Attorneys Ian Gray, Dexter Bailey, Wayne Sturge and Keith Beckles are representing the accused persons. Saada’s mother Ria Singh yesterday testified for about 30 minutes. She was not cross-examined by defence attorneys Ian Gray and Keith Beckles. The attorneys said they were not able to do so in the absence of fellow defence lawyers Sturge and Bailey. Wellington told the defence they must cross-examine Mrs Singh at the next hearing, even if their colleagues were not present. “If the other attorneys are not present, you will have to cross-examine. These witnesses cannot keep coming back to court,” the magistrate warned. The matter was adjourned to January 5, 2005.