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Feb 15, 2013 News
After two trials – with the first having ended in a hung jury – 45-year-old Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice resident, Ramesh Sahadeo, 45, called ‘Bado’ was yesterday sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Brassington Reynolds, after he was found guilty of murder by a mixed jury in the Berbice High Court.
Sahadeo was on trial for the murder of 17-year-old Darshanan Ramanan called ‘Tato’ of Bush Lot Housing Scheme, which occurred on September 20, 2009.
Justice Reynolds had earlier taken about two hours to sum up the evidence to the jury, guiding them on various aspects of the law. The jury then took just over two hours, retiring around 13:00hrs and returning at 15:00 hrs, with the unanimous verdict of guilty of murder.
Both the defence and prosecution had summed up their case earlier during the morning session for consideration of the jury.
Defence attorney Raymond Ali had based his arguments on a number of issues, including self-defence, He had also argued that the incident was an accident. He claimed that there were a lot of inconsistencies during the trial and that the prosecution’s two eyewitnesses were consistently lying.
State prosecutor Dionne Mc Cammon in her submission to the jury had stated that the prosecution case
was clear and very straightforward and based on the two eyewitnesses who were at the scene having been in company with the deceased when he was killed.
The accused looked pensive even before the verdict was announced and rubbed tears from his eyes. The foreman answered in the affirmative when he was asked if they had a verdict and a unanimous one. Guilty was the answer when asked a second time.
When asked if he had anything to say, the accused mumbled some words which were inaudible.
Defence counsel Raymond Ali then asked the court to exercise some amount of leniency on the accused. He stated that he is a labourer in his late 40s, is divorced, and has children whom he still will have to take care of.
Justice Reynolds then ruled that the prisoner will be sentenced according to the stipulated penalty. The entire court was asked to rise by the Chief Marshal as the judge announced “Ramesh Sadadeo you have been found guilty on a unanimous verdict by the jury for the offence of murder and are to be taken forthwith to a place of lawful execution and hanged by the neck until you are dead, may peace be on your soul.”
Sahadeo’s relatives who were in court broke down in tears as the accused was led away by a prison officer.
The court heard that on the day in question, Sahadeo slashed the neck of Ramanan killing him, following a misunderstanding between the two men.
During the trial, seven witnesses testified. The eyewitnesses, Vishal Dayaram called ‘Texas’ and Sahadeo Jailall called ‘Boy’ had recounted that on the day in question they had witnessed the accused inflicting the fateful chop to the neck of the deceased.
Dayaram had testified that the accused had handed him a bag with Parasad (sweet meat) before taking away his cutlass and fatally chopping Ramanan on his neck. He had stated that this was after an argument had ensued between the two men. Sahadeo was armed with the cutlass, while Ramanan was armed with a brick. Ramanan was chopped even as he bent down to fix his bicycle.
Selena Ramanan testified of receiving information about her son. She raced to the scene where she saw her son lying on the ground with a wound to his neck and with what appeared to be blood around him.
Daneshwar Persaud testified to indentifying the body on the day of the post mortem. He witnessed the autopsy which was conducted by Dr. Brijmohan at the New Amsterdam hospital.
Superintendent Stephen Mansell testified that he was stationed at the Fort Wellington Police station. He conducted investigations into the matter and subsequently arrested the accused.
Detective corporal Dwayne Harvey in his testimony had stated that he had visited the scene where he saw the accused in a pool of blood. He subsequently conducted investigation in the matter. He also witnessed the post mortem examination.
Dr Brijmohan in his testimony had given the cause of death as shock and hemorrhage due to an incise wound to the neck.
The accused had also given an unsworn statement from the docks, in which he had stated his movements during the day after he left home to visit his friend ‘Sweets’. He encountered Ramanan and two friends on a dam. After a misunderstanding between him and the youth, they got into an argument and then a scramble as they fought and fell to the ground. He subsequently got up and ran away after he heard one of the men telling Ramanan to “bore” and “chop” him. He was subsequently arrested by the police and charged for the crime.
Reports were that Ramanan was at the corner of the street while the defendant was passing and an argument ensued between them. Sahadeo dealt Ramanan a single chop to his neck and calmly walked away. Ramanan was seen running frantically up and down the street a few times before collapsing to the ground, bleeding profusely. He died before receiving medical attention. The police subsequently arrived at the scene. Sahadeo was later arrested and charged.
State Prosecutor Dionne Mc Cammon had set out to prove that it was the accused who had inflicted the injuries on the deceased resulting in his death.
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