US war veteran trial:

"Taken from our C O U R T section.

NORMALLY, defence lawyers are quick to see exhibits being tendered into evidence, especially exhibits in a murder case. But yesterday, things were different at the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court.

The defence team shied away from taking a close look at the barrel and box in which the remains of United States war veteran Balram “Balo” Maharaj were found on January 8. The inquiry resumed yesterday before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls.

In the dock were the six accused — Doreen Alexander-Durity, Anderson Straker, Corporal Ricardo Stevenson, Kevin Nixon and brothers Wayne and Kenneth Pierre.

Corporal Intabh Ramjohn, a fingerprint and crime scene expert for the past ten years, was called to testify. He brought with him a number of items to tender into evidence including soft drink bottles, a juice pack and samples of soil which he retrieved from Santa Cruz.

There were no objections to these items being admitted into evidence. Defence lawyers looked at the items before they were marked by the Chief Magistrate and admitted into evidence.

In anticipation of the barrel and box being brought forward, the defence lawyers hurriedly stated that they had no objection to them being tendered into evidence. Both items were in a black garbage bag.

But Mc Nicolls indicated that the items had to be marked before they could be tendered into evidence. Lead defence attorney Theodore Guerra SC turned away from the items, Evans Welch decided to read something on his lap top and Kenneth Munroe-Brown left the court.

One of Mc Nicolls’ body guards donned safety gloves to assist in taking the items out of the bag. But even he went skeptically at the bag, keeping his distance. The accused who were seated in the dock were glued to the garbage bag. The barrel was taken out of the bag and marked. A female police officer who was seated near the bag, had to beat a hasty retreat because of the smell.

After the items were marked, the bag was placed right in front of the media table. Ramjohn was the only witness to testify. Although he left the court with the items, the smell remained. Hearing was adjourned to tomorrow. Israel Khan SC and State attorney Jennifer Martin are prosecuting.