Berbice businessman’s murder trial opens

The trial of the accused in the murder of a Hampshire, Corentyne, East Berbice businessman who was killed during a robbery opened on Wednesday in the Berbice Assizes.
Devendra Deodat, also called ‘Dave,’ 34, of Lot 72 Hampshire Squatting Area, Corentyne, was shot to his chest, chopped to his neck and hands, and had one of his fingers severed during the attack at his home. His father-in-law Rafeek Abdul, called ‘King,’ 57, of Lot 63 Williamsburg, Corentyne, was shot twice to his shoulder; and Deodat’s wife, Shaneeza, was chopped to the head during the robbery.
Ramnarine Jagmohan is accused of killing the businessman on October 9, 2013.
When the trial opened before Justice Brassington Reynolds in the Berbice High Court, the accused pleaded not guilty before a mixed jury.
Attorney-at-law Mondel Moore is representing the State, while Attorney-at-law Chandra Sohan is representing the defendant.
On Wednesday the State called two witnesses.
Detective Constable Beharry Jaigopaul, who witnessed the post mortem, told the court that the cause of death was given as shock and haemorrhage due to gunshot injuries and multiple gunshot wounds.
He said the Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan, handed over to him seven small metal balls which were removed from Deodat’s body.
Under cross-examination by Sohan, Jaigopaul said he could not say what happened to the metal balls. He also said he was unaware whether any ballistics tests had been carried out.
The accused and his younger brother, Neshan Jagmohan, were charged with the murder of Deodat. However, on June 21, 2017, Neshan Jagmohan was killed in a brawl at the New Amsterdam Prison. The trial continues on Monday.