Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 06, 2014 News
The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the death of a female taxi driver who was earlier this year found dead in a clump of bushes, one mile from Jubilee Fun Park and Resort, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, continued at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. Three more witnesses were called to the stand.
Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine Beharry said that she will, in light of allegations made, be conducting a voir dire to determine the admissibility of the confession statement garnered from the accused.
Sylvester Bristol, also known as “Rambo”, is charged with murdering taxi driver Savitri ‘Maya’ Parma some time between February 15 and February 16, last, at Dakara Creek on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.
Parma, a mother of two, who resided at Loncke’s Avenue, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, was reportedly raped and strangled with a bootlace several hours before her body was discovered in the wee hours of the morning of February 16.
She was said to have been murdered by the accused who she offered a lift to Loam Pit after picking him up at his work place on the night of February 15.
While Parma’s body was reportedly found faced down with her head “pressed to the earth,” her nine-year-old son was found sleeping in the rear seat of her abandoned taxi hours later by her husband who decided to search for his “missing wife.”
Investigators who probed the case were led to the accused who was reportedly found hiding in a wardrobe at his living quarters at Bashir Sandpit, Soesdyke/Linden Highway.
The PI got underway Monday last in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and is scheduled to be called again today before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Bristol is being prosecuted by Corporal Bharat Mangru who is attached to the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He is currently unrepresented by legal counsel.
At the hearings thus far, the court heard sworn testimonies from the widower Kamal Parma, their nine-year-old son, her
father-in-law Kissoon Parma, her sister Sharon Gangadeen, Detective Constable Mark Gaspar, Constable Ze Bartholomey and Constable Shawn Beharry.
As the proceedings continued yesterday, three more witnesses were called to offer sworn testimonies on behalf of the state.
Detective Corporal Oswyn Semple attached to the Criminal Investigations Division of the Timehri Police Station was the only police rank who took the stand yesterday and related the role he played in conducting the investigations. He was cross examined by Bristol.
His testimony was supplemented by that of taxi driver Quacy Major who claimed that he had transported the accused. Also, one of Parma’s passengers Damian Dias offered a sworn testimony before the court.
The Detective Corporal’s testimony is the only one which was challenged by the accused.
During the reading of his confession statement, Bristol made several accusations against the police which resulted in the Chief Magistrate opting for a voir dire to determine the admissibility of it.
Four pieces of evidence have so far been tendered and leave was granted for Corporal Semple to return to court. The PI is scheduled to continue today.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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