Corentyne fatal stabbing: Teen slapped with murder charge

A 17-year-old Corentyne teenager accused of fatally stabbing labourer Carter Baboolall, called “Baboo”, was on Thursday remanded to the Juvenile Holding Centre after appearing before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on a murder charge.
The teenager, who was represented by attorney-at-law Vinay Punwa, was not required to plead to the indictable charge. Police Corporal Sherry Williams prosecuted the matter.

During the hearing, Punwa mounted a vigorous defence of the teenager, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the fatal stabbing pointed more towards manslaughter than murder.
The attorney told the court that the defence was surprised by the murder charge and maintained that his client acted in self-defence after allegedly being attacked by the now-dead man.
According to Punwa, Baboolall had allegedly bullied and provoked the teenager on previous occasions.
He further claimed that on the day of the incident, the teenager was at a wash station when Baboolall allegedly approached and attacked him.
“The deceased had him on the ground pinned down, and he could not move,” Punwa told the court while outlining the defence’s version of events.
The attorney said the teenager was allegedly being punched while Baboolall’s knees were pressed against him, leaving him frightened and unable to escape.
Punwa told the court that the teenager then pulled a knife from his back pocket, a knife he allegedly used earlier in the day to peel mangoes, and Baboolall was allegedly stabbed in an effort to free himself.
The attorney also informed the court that there was video evidence which allegedly showed the teenager being attacked before the stabbing.
During the proceedings, Punwa sought bail for the teenager, pointing to his age, lack of previous convictions and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In support of the application, the attorney cited a Trinidad and Tobago court ruling involving Akili Chavez, where the court held that bail may be permissible in certain murder cases depending on the circumstances.
Punwa argued that the court should exercise similar discretion in the matter before it.
However, Magistrate Matthias questioned whether there were any local authorities supporting such an application. Punwa told the court that none were known to him.
Police Corporal Williams strongly objected to bail, arguing that murder remains a capital offence and that the magistrate’s court was prohibited from granting bail in matters of that nature.
After hearing submissions, Magistrate Matthias refused bail and ordered that the teenager be remanded to the Juvenile Holding Centre. The case will continue on June 30.
The matter has been transferred to the Albion Magistrate’s Court.
Meanwhile, an autopsy conducted on Baboolall’s body gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage due to multiple stab wounds.
The autopsy also found that Baboolall sustained seven stab wounds, several of which pierced his lungs.
Baboolall was fatally stabbed during an altercation at Nigg Village, Corentyne, last Friday.
Police subsequently retrieved the alleged murder weapon from the scene.
Following the incident, the teenager reportedly surrendered to Police in the company of his mother and attorney.