Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 19, 2016 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News
Police Detective Mitchell Caesar testified yesterday that murder accused, Leon Duncan, supplied investigators
with an alibi after he was arrested for killing businessman Intaz Roopnarine.
Roopnarine was shot and killed at Cool Square Hotel, on January 24, 2013.
Duncan, nicknamed Whistle’, is on trial before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown High Court for the murder. The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder in the course or furtherance of a robbery. He is being represented by Attorney Mark Waldron.
The businessman was reportedly wearing several pieces of expensive jewellery when he was shot and robbed at Cool Square Hotel in Marigold Street, West Ruimveldt. Roopnarine called ‘Bobby’ of 169 Mandela Avenue is said to have collapsed and died near to a septic tank aback of the hotel. He was preparing to leave the hotel moments before the shooting.
His assailant escaped with a gold and diamond chain worth $500,000, one gold band worth $700,000 and other jewellery, all priced at a total of $2,200,000.
Yesterday, Detective Caesar told court that after Duncan was arrested, he claimed that he had nothing to do with the shooting.
The policeman was called to the stand by State Attorney Stacey Goodings, who is presenting the case in association with Attorneys, Tuanna Hardy and Orinthia Schmidt.
Caesar told the court that he had cautioned and put the allegation of murder to the accused, following his arrest.
According Caesar, in a statement to the police, Duncan claimed that he had been with an ex girlfriend, the night before the businessman was killed at Cool Square Hotel.
The policeman related to the court that Duncan told him in the presence of others ranks, at CID headquarters Eve Leary that on the night of January 23, 2013 he went the Edge Night Club at Tower Hotel, where he met his ex girlfriend, Tiana Cumberbatch, who was with her friend Tiffany Glasgow.
Duncan claimed that he and his ex -girlfriend left the club and went to Cool Square Hotel where they spent the night; he said that they left the hotel in a taxi early the following day.
The Detective said that the accused told him that he went straight to bed after the taxi dropped him at his home. He claimed that he only learnt of the murder after watching the news, later that day.
As a result of Duncan’s statement, Caesar said that ranks visited the homes of both Cumerbatch and Glasgow. They were also interviewed separately by the police at CID Headquarters.
The policeman said too that a security officer attached to the hotel was contacted and questioned by the investigating team about the murder.
He said at no point was any force or inducement used as method of obtaining information from Duncan.
The statement, Caesar said was freely and voluntarily given.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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