Ex-Coast Guard Ranks trial…Decision likely by Tuesday

Jun 27, 2013 News

By Latoya Giles
Medex Loreen Parkinson, the lone witness called by defence attorney, Latchmie Rahamat, testified, yesterday, that she had examined Sherwin Hart, Devon Gordon and Deon Greenidge some three days after they were remanded to prison.
The three men are accused of killing Dwieve Kant Ramdass on August 20, 2009 at Caiman Hole in the Essequibo River. They allegedly forced him into their boat and took him to another location in the river where they relieved him of $17M in cash he was carrying in a box to Bartica for his employer.
The employer operated a gold and diamond business in the city.
In cross examination, the witness told the court that she has been a Medex for the last 22 years. She admitted that it was procedure that if a prisoner claims abuse once at the reception area of the Georgetown Prisons the Medex is summoned. The witness explained that this examination depends on the time of the admission and the nature of the physical injuries seen.
She was asked to explain the type of physical injury required for the Medex to come to the reception area. According to the woman, the injury would be some form of disfigurement, deformation of limbs or bones, wounds, difficulty breathing or the inability to walk or talk and any form of disorientation.
The witness asked whether she was called to exam the men on Monday August 24, she answered in the negative. She added that she was the only Medex working at the prison.
Under cross examination the woman explained that when she had examined the three men, it was part of routine.  She said that when she saw Sherwin Hart, she did ask if he had any complaints. Parkinson said that Hart claimed that he was beaten by the police.
Prosecutor Mursalin questioned Parkinson on whether Hart had given her any names of the police who allegedly beat him, but he did not.
According to the witness the only thing Hart told her, was that he was “cuffed” to the face. Under further questioning by the prosecutor the witness admitted that during the examination the three men were required to strip naked. The court heard from the witness that when Hart was examined the only thing the Medex found was that he had “lotta spots” on his chest. The woman said she later prescribed treatment which was “Whitfield’s ointment”.
According to the Medex, when Devon Gordon was examined he never complained that he was beaten. The prosecutor questioned the witness on if Gordon had complained of being beaten, if she would have had to record it and she answered in the affirmative.
Under cross examination, the Medex said she suspected that Gordon had a “hernia”. With regards to Deon Greenidge the Medex said that she did observe a swelling on his arm and leg. The woman said that she could not say that Greenidge was admitted to the prison with the swelling.  Under cross examination the woman explained that around 60 percent of prisoners claim that they were beaten.
Justice Holder, in questioning the witness asked whether Gordon told Parkinson how he suffered the swelling and she replied no. The defence later closed its case.
Attorney at law Latchmie Rahamat in her closing remarks told the jury that they have to make a decision whether the three men were guilty or innocent. Rahamat said that it was the jury who would have to assess all the evidence and put the pieces together. The lawyer explained that the prosecution had brought the case, but they also have to prove it.
She told the jury that if they had any lurking doubt that they should release the three accused. Rahamat went on to tell the jury that even if they look at a certain piece of evidence they have to be satisfied that all the investigation was done. The lawyer sought to remind the jury that the future of the three accused rested in their hands.
She said that the evidence which was presented by both the civilians and police all had inconsistencies with their time. She urged the jury to note the persons who took the caution statements from the men.
Further the lawyer said that there was no proof that the money which was found ever came from Ramdass, adding that it was only $12.2 million returned, which raised more questions than answers.
According to the lawyer, the pathologist gave the most pertinent evidence, in which he said that Ramdass could have died on August 21, when all of the accused were in custody. Rahamat stressed that the pieces of the puzzle by the prosecution do not fit.
However Prosecutor Mursalin gave the members of the jury a different picture. The prosecutor in her address gave the jury a picture of a man who was just 24 years old who was “cut down” at the prime of his life.
She urged the jury not to be side tracked by irrelevant topics which the defence had brought up. Mursalin told the jury that they should not consider the defence lawyer’s opinion, but they should look at the compelling evidence which the prosecution had presented. Mursalin said that none of the witnesses brought to give evidence had an axe to grind with any of the three accused.
Contrary to the defence about the witnesses making up a “fairytale story” was irrelevant since all fairytales have happy endings and this one has none. Prosecutor Mursalin noted that God worked in a mysterious way on August 20, 2009, because he allowed Leonard Brotherson to see when the three accused were speaking to Ramdass at Parika.
“Brotherson saw the three accused and Ramdass who had the cartoon box go on the coast guard boat.”  The prosecutor said that Brotherson knew something was wrong just from Ramdass’ facial expression.
“Members of the jury, if Brotherson did not see these men, they would have become instant millionaires,” Mursalin said. The prosecutor went on to tell the jury that these men were trained to protect citizens, but they used the trust which was instilled in them to carry out a murder.
“The boat they were on was propelled by a 200 motor engine, but they were being propelled by greed. How could you decide to kill a man and take the money?”
The prosecutor said that the men have all failed to “keep up” with their “make up story”. The woman said that contrary to what the three men said that they had dropped off Ramdass on the beach area on Hog Island, was a lie since the stelling area there is a “mud flat”, no beach just mud.
The prosecutor urged the witness not to entertain the notion that Devon Gordon’s sister, Vanda Adolphus was crying at the police station. “She should be crying and crying bitterly because it was blood money she was caught with,” the prosecutor argued.
Mursalin said that the only reason the men gave the caution statements was because their families were caught red handed.
Justice Holder has adjourned the case to Tuesday when it is expected the verdict is likely to come out.