Latest update October 15th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 15, 2011 News
… Taxi driver murder trial
As the murder trial for Shawn Richardson continued yesterday before Justice Dawn Gregory, three witnesses were called to give their evidence in chief.
Richardson, 30, of Bare Roots, East Coast Demerara, is accused of killing Enterprise taxi driver Vivekanand Nandalall between October 2003 and March 2004.
State Prosecutors Konyo Sandiford and Judith Ghildarie-Mursalin are presenting the case, while Richardson is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Clarissa Riehl.
First to take the stand yesterday was Nandalall’s uncle, Heeralall Lismore. The man testified to certain aspects of the kidnapping and the ransom which was paid by the relatives who pooled their monies.
He was crossed examined by Richardson’s lawyer. Thereafter, the matter was adjourned. During the afternoon session two more witnesses were called to give their evidence. They were Basmattie Nandalall, one of the victim’s cousins, and Lance Corporal Elroy Masau.
The woman recounted the last time she saw her cousin alive. She gave the court an outline of his normal routine.
The woman also spoke about the family pooling together their monies in an effort raise the ransom.
Under cross examination by attorney Riehl, Nandalall was asked if she was certain if the skeletal remains that were found, were her cousin’s.
The woman replied in the affirmative and stated that the family had done a DNA test on the bones. It was concluded that the remains were indeed her cousin, Vivekanand.
Lance Corporal Elroy spoke about Richardson’s arrest. The matter is expected to continue today.
Magistrate Brassington Reynolds had freed Richardson back in 2007. However, he was rearrested minutes after the decision was handed down.
Richardson, who was picked up during a police raid in Buxton, had first appeared at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court charged with the murder of Nandalall. The taxi driver was killed some time between October 2003 and March 2004. He was kidnapped in October 2003 while making a pick up in Bachelor’s Adventure. His car was found abandoned on the Annandale Railway Embankment Road. His family was contacted by the kidnappers who demanded ransom of $1 million.
His uncle paid the ransom but he was never freed despite continuous pleas. His kidnappers later murdered him and his skeletal remains were found in the cane field behind Bare Roots.
On March 12, 2004, a GuySuCo field supervisor found the skeleton, with one bullet hole to the skull, about a mile and a half south of the Bachelor’s Adventure Squatting Area. There was no other evidence than that of a lock of hair on the skull, which indicated that the deceased was of East Indian descent.
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