Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 12, 2014 News
Following the closure of the Prosecution’s case this week, the siblings accused of murdering their stepfather
five years ago are expected to begin leading their defence on Monday before Madame Justice Dawn Gregory and a mixed 12-member jury.
This is the second time that Hoosman Khan called ‘Strongman’ and his sisters Bibi Farida called ‘Pum’, Shamiza called ‘Sham,’ are on trial for the murder of their stepfather Motielall Singh in September 2009.
Earlier this year the siblings’ trial ended in a hung jury before Justice Navindra Singh. They were being prosecuted along with Bissoondial ‘Weed Man’ Mahadeo and Ayube ‘Little’ Hamid. Mahadeo was acquitted of the murder charge, while Hamid died in prison.
The case is now being prosecuted by State Attorneys, Natasha Backer and Mercedes Thompson, while Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos is representing the siblings.
The Khans were charged following the death of their stepfather after they reportedly made statements claiming that they had instructions from their mother who sent them US$700 from overseas to hire a ‘hit man’ to kill their stepfather who was at the time on a visit to Guyana.
The victim, a resident of 290 Hemlock Street, Brooklyn New York, was found lying in a pool of blood at First Street, Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara. Following investigations, they were arrested and charged with Singh’s murder.
In their caution statements which were read to the jury, the accused related that following a broken relationship between their mother and stepfather overseas, the mother sent money to them with instructions that they should use that money to hire someone to kill Singh during his visit.
The statements gave accounts of places they had visited and the persons they contracted in their search for a killer.
Following the reading of the statements, however, three voir dire (trials within trials) were conducted by Madame Justice Gregory to determine admissibility of caution statements. Those ended with the judge finding that all three statements given to the police by the accused were voluntary and as a consequence, the statements were admitted into evidence.
The prosecution’s case was closed earlier this week following the testimony of Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh. Dr. Singh, who performed the post mortem, disclosed that a person suffering from diabetes could find themselves in a coma. The pathologist revealed that Singh had died from multiple incised wounds. The doctor said he found 20 wounds on the man’s body.
The trial has so far lasted three weeks during which 13 witnesses have testified. The accused were supposed to begin leading their defence yesterday but the court was informed, via letter, that Senior Counsel De Santos was ill.
As such, the case was put off and is expected to continue next Monday.
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