Hearing continues Aug 30

Sgt Leon Nurse, Cpl Ricardo Stevenson, Private Ricardo De Four and Zion Clarke are wanted in the US for the abduction of US war veteran Balram “Balo” Maharaj, who was kidnapped while liming at Samaan Tree Bar in Aranjuez on April 6, 2005.

His remains were found in two barrels at Grande Curacaye, Santa Cruz on January 8, 2006. After the charges were read to the accused men, four witnesses — Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Attorney General Cheryl Blackman, Sgt Wendell Williams and PC Paul Guerra of Interpol, and Legal Executive at the Attorney General’s office Sunita Harikisoon — were called to give evidence for the State.

Special prosecutor Dana Seetahal SC appeared on behalf of the State, while attorneys Theodore Guerra SC, Keith Scotland and John Heath represented the four accused. They will reappear before McNicolls on September 6. Nurse, Stevenson, De Four and Clarke, along with 49-year-old Doreen Alexander- Durity, 32-year-old Anderson Straker, brothers Wayne and Kenneth Pierre and Christopher Sealey, also known as Michael Bournes, had earlier appeared before McNicolls for Maharaj’s murder. Forensic Pathologist Hughvon DesVignes and PC Roger Alexander were led in evidence by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutor Carla Browne-Antoine and Special prosecutor Israel Khan SC.

The accused will appear in court for another hearing on August 30.