5 witnesses testify as trial continues

Scrap dealer murder

By Kizzy Coleman

The retrial into the murder of Akbar Alli, who was gunned down by bandits opposite King’s Solomon Enterprise on Brickdam, Georgetown, continued on Wednesday before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and a 12-member jury at the High Court.
Rondell Bacchus, 29, of C Field Sophia Squatting Area, Greater Georgetown, is accused of carrying out the heinous act along with Andrew Morris, 34, of Lot 263 East La Penitence, Georgetown.
Bacchus, who is accused of committing the murder on July 24, 2006, was committed to be retried following the jury’s complaint that they could not reach a verdict and further directions from the Judge would not be helpful.
This decision came after the testimony of Rameena Bibi Hydar, the wife of the deceased who testified via audiovisual link (Skype), that she had positively identified Bacchus at an identification parade in Georgetown after the shooting.
Some members of the jury were in doubt about the evidence which was presented before the court and as such, the trial ended in a hung jury.
Justice Navindra Singh, who previously heard the case, had ordered the retrial for the next session of the Assizes, since the jury could not decide whether the accused was guilty or not guilty of the crime.
According to reports, on the day in question, around 13:00h, Alli withdrew about $2.1 million from a city bank and went with his wife to another city bank after which he proceeded to Brickdam to transact business with an auto dealer.
He had parked and along with his wife exited the vehicle when two men rode up on a motorcycle and snatched the bag containing the money which his wife had.
The men then rode away, but Alli gave chase, and one of the bandits shot him in the chest. The injured man was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he eventually succumbed.
On Wednesday, the Court heard the testimonies of five witnesses who were presented by State Prosecutors Tuanna Hardy and Narissa Leander, and cross-examined by defence counsel Nigel Hughes.
Those testifying were Assistant Superintendent of Police, Trevor Husbands; Sergeant Lilin Scotland; Safdaar Hussein; retired Deputy Inspector Sydney Charles and ex-Police Officer Trevor Oswald.
Oswald, who conducted the identification (ID) parade when the suspect was in custody, took the stand for the second time to give his testimony.
He explained that the eyewitness, the deceased’s wife, positively identified Bacchus as the perpetrator.
Attorney Hughes questioned the even-handedness of the ID parade, querying the characteristics of those in the line-up.
In response, Oswald explained that the men chosen to be in the parade were chosen because of the way they dressed and all were of the same ethnicity.
Hughes also accused the ex-Officer of misleading the Court, alleging that statements that he gave in the Magistrate’s Court some eight years ago were different from what he was currently saying in the High Court.
The Attorney questioned the way in which the parade was carried out, asking the witness if it was normal for the Police Officer who conducted the parade to know where the suspect was standing and to hold conversations with the eyewitness.
Oswald answered that it was a norm for Officers to do this.
Prior to the ex-Police Officer, the four other witnesses gave their testimonies. The matter will continue today.