Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 13, 2014 News
The accused in the No 73 Village Corentyne rape robbery trial is expected to know his fate today when Justice Brassington Reynolds sums up the evidence for the mixed jury sitting in the Berbice High Court.
On trial for rape and robbery is Beesham Gopaul, called “Thackoor”, 27, of Number 74 Village, Corentyne. He allegedly robbed and raped a married mother of two on June 24, 2008 at Number 73 Village Corentyne, Berbice.
Both the prosecution and defence closed their cases and presented closing arguments before the judge and mixed jury in passionate presentations.
Defence attorney, Charlyn Artiga, maintained that there was insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution to prove the two offences of robbery and rape that her client is being accused of.
She tried to dissect the evidence of the virtual complainant which was the only evidence presented as being inconsistent. She also cited the discrepancies in the evidence given by the virtual complainant and Police Detective Corporal Winston Singh.
Prosecutor, Attorney-at-law Renita Singh in her submissions concentrated on the evidence of the victim. She said that the victim saw the accused. He was in front of her for about 10 minutes. She also knew the accused for more than 10 years. She zeroed in on the inconsistency in the story of the accused and his witness in relation to the time he arrived home and when he departed.
The accused arrived home around 11:30 hrs and left around 11:45hrs. The alleged incident occurred around 13:30 hrs.
The Prosecutor had closed their case without being able to tender the medical certificate due to the absence of Dr. Mahase Chandra Persaud who is reportedly out of the jurisdiction.
The woman had earlier given her evidence in chief as she detailed the sequence of events on the day in questioned as to how she was accosted by the accused that she knew for over 10 years as “Thackoor”; how he managed to rob and rape her at knifepoint; and steal her gold and jewelry and $10,000 in cash before escaping and taking her cell phone which was nearby.
During the ordeal her hands were tied behind her back. He also threatened to kill her baby.
She said that her mother along with her husband accompanied her to the police station. She was later accompanied to the Skeldon Hospital and New Amsterdam Hospital and back to the Skeldon Hospital where she was examined and a Medical Certificate issued.
Later the same day she identified the accused at the Springlands Police Station.
Her mother, Police Detective Corporal Winston Singh, and Rural Constable Rowena Craig also testified in the matter.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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