1 acquitted, another for retrial over businessman’s murder

Randy Isaacs, 25, one of the two men who were on trial for the February 23, 2013 murder of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD) businessman Kumar Mohabir, was on Monday found not guilty by a 12-member jury.

Acquitted: Randy Isaacs

After almost three hours of deliberations, the jury was, however, unable to arrive at a verdict in relation to the indictment against his co-accused, 28-year-old Devon Thomas.
As such, Justice Sandil Kissoon further remanded Thomas to prison pending another trial at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes. Both Thomas and Isaacs were initially tried for the man’s murder in 2015. The jury, then, had found them guilty.
They had both been sentenced to 75 years in prison with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum of 40 years. Thomas and Isaacs subsequently mounted an appeal against their conviction and sentence. Earlier this year, the Court of Appeal allowed their appeal, thereby setting aside their conviction and sentence. As such, their case was remitted to the High Court for a new trial.
Based on reports, Mohabir was with his family partaking in Mashramani celebrations at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, when he was attacked and killed by a group of men who were armed with broken bottles. The altercation reportedly stemmed from the now-dead man stepping on one of his attackers’ feet.
The men’s new trial commenced earlier this month before Justice Kissoon at the Demerara High Court. Following the close of the case for the prosecution last week Thursday, Thomas and Isaacs were called on to lead a defence. They both elected to give unsworn statements.

Murder accused: Devon Thomas

Thomas told the jury that Police went to his home at Better Hope South, ECD, and informed him that he was wanted for questioning concerning Mohabir’s murder.
“Police took me and my brother-in-law for questioning at the Ruimveldt Police Station. They asked me and show me a paper with a lot of names, I tell them that I did not know the names of any persons. Five minutes after they put on shackle and handcuffs on me. Police kept me at the station overnight,” Thomas had said in his statement to the court.

According to the murder accused, he was placed on an identification parade and “10 minutes after Police ranks came back and told him that he get point out for a murder that happened on Vlissengen Road.” He added, “I told them [Police ranks] I don’t know what you are talking about.”
Thomas said that he met his co-accused for the first time when they were arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
“I ask he [Isaacs] what is the reason why he here…That was the first time in my life I ever see Randy Isaacs or ever speak to him. I come in prison as a teenage boy. With all due respect members of the jury, I know to my heart, God knows my heart, that I am innocent, I am really innocent,” said Thomas in conclusion.

Dead: Kumar Mohabir

Meanwhile, Isaacs, formerly of Montrose, ECD, had told the court that Police ranks went to his home and arrested him. “They told me that I was going to be placed on an ID parade,” he said, adding that Police never informed him of how an ID parade works.
He said, “When I go into the room, no one looked like me, no one had height like me. I was the only person with a funny eye and tattoo. They tell me I was picked out as a positive suspect. I told them that I don’t know anything about any murder.”
“Since I was in prison, I was age 17. My father died while I was in prison. I am innocent of this charge. I did not bore anybody; I did not kill anybody. I would like to get my freedom to go and take care of my mother,” Isaacs had said in closing.
Thomas and Isaacs were represented by Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes, and associates, while Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Muntaz Ali appeared on behalf of the State.
Dozens of witnesses testified in the trial on behalf of the prosecution and defence including Police ranks, who investigated the killing, relatives of the now-dead man, and a pathologist who conducted a post-mortem examination on the remains of Mohabir. (G1)