Berbice businessman murder PI…Magistrate postpones matter due to bat-infested courtroom

Sep 09, 2016 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of Berbice Businessman Shameer Ali-Mursalin was postponed for a fortnight due to issues of bat infestation, which has been reportedly plaguing the Springlands Magistrates’ Court, in East Corentyne, Berbice.
The matter which is ongoing before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh has seen a number of adjournments. On the last occasion, the main witness, Rocky Profitt was ordered into police custody to facilitate further cross-examination in the matter.
Profitt was ordered to return to court yesterday, for the cross-examination. However, when he and the other witnesses turned up, they were told that all court proceedings would be postponed for the day.
Kaieteur News understands that the postponement was due to concerns raised by Magistrate Singh over the physical conditions of the Springlands Magistrate’s Court. As such, the Magistrate adjourned the matter until September 22.
The main witness was therefore ordered to return to court on that date to face further cross examination in the matter.
This newspaper was told that the Springlands Court has been plagued by issues of bat infestation for some time now. Employees attached to the Court expressed concerns that their superiors in Georgetown have been ignoring their calls for infrastructural improvements.
“The ceiling is damaged and the bats live there. When you come to work in the morning the place is covered in dust and rat dropping and the smell is just terrible. It causes my skin to itch and break out in rash,” one court personnel stated.
“We would be glad if the relevant persons… the Chancellor or whoever is responsible, would pay more attention to the Springlands Court,” another added.
Kaieteur News has been following the matter for which Berbice businessman, Dennis Veerasammy and two of his employees, Basheer Harrinauth and Delroy Fraser are before the court for the murder of Shameer Ali- Mursalin, called ‘Kazac,’ a trader, of Grant 1805 Weld Tank Dam, Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice.
The victim was fatally shot to the head on October 24, 2015. The case attracted media attention after it was reported that Magistrate Singh had allowed the main witness, (Rocky Profitt), to testify without permitting him to review the evidence or sign his deposition.
This took place in mid-August.
The witness had not been attending court and the Magistrate had issued a warrant for his arrest.
During a previous hearing, Police Prosecutor, Bernard Brown had explained to the court that he was informed that Profitt had been seeking medical attention at a city hospital.
According to the prosecutor, the witness was unable to attend court due to issues related to his health.
However amidst public debate over the uncertified evidence (deposition), Profitt returned to court last Monday, September 5.
He was allowed to review and sign his evidence after explaining to the Magistrate that he was ill and could not attend court. After the evidence was re-read to him by the Magistrate, Profitt told the court that he had no difficulty with the information therein. He then signed.
The witness also provided a medical certificate to support his reason for being absent at the previous hearings. The witness faced questioning from Attorney Chandra Sohan, who appeared for the number one accused. Sohan also cross-examined another witness, Jagdeo Ramdass. An arrest warrant was also issued for Ramdass on the last occasion.
However, following cross-examination by Sohan, Magistrate Singh ordered that the main witness remain in custody at the Springlands Police lockups, pending further cross-examination from another Attorney from Legal Aid, who was expected to enter an appearance on behalf of the other two accused. That Attorney did not show up.