Jury selection next week

SOME 63 jurors will flock to the San Fernando High Court next week Wednesday, from which 12 will be selected to sit in the Dr Chandra Naraynsingh murder trial. The jurors turned up yesterday, but there is a legal matter currently engaging the attention of Justice Herbert Volney and attorneys in the matter. Those proceedings are being held in-camera. Volney did not attend court yesterday in the San Fernando First Assize Court, and another judge adjourned the proceedings. Justice Mark Mohammed, who is presiding in the Second Assizes, went over to the First Assize and  told the 63 potential jurors that their services would not be required until next week Wednesday. It is expected the matter will be completed by then.

Seeromani Maraj-Naraynsingh and Elton Ramasir, who are charged with the June 29, 1994, murder of Dr Chandra Naraynsingh, were not brought to court yesterday. Dr Naraynsingh was the second wife of Prof Vijay Naraynsingh. The professor was also charged with the murder, but was discharged by Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington last year. Maraj-Naraynsingh, the professor’s third wife, and Ramasir were, however, committed to stand trial. Also absent were the attorneys involved in the matter from both the State and defence. Senior Counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj (defence) and special prosecutor Dana Seetahal (State) are currently engaged in arguing the legal issue. On Wednesday, Volney ruled that the Naraynsingh case would be heard in the San Fernando Assizes.