East Ruimveldt man on trial for dredge owner’s murder

Travis McDougal who was accused of killing 43-year-old dredge owner Ashok Raghu outside the Botanical Gardens on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown in August 2014, is standing trial at the High Court in Georgetown.

In July 2015, McDougal was committed to stand trial for murder, along with pork-knocker Jermaine Otto, who was one of the prisoners that perished in the deadly Camp Street Prison fire, following riots in March 2016.
McDougal, of East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown, and his accomplice were both accused of killing Raghu on August 18, 2014, during the furtherance of a robbery of $4 million, committed on the now deceased man and his wife, Shyrazadi.
On Monday, a 12-member jury was empanelled to hear the case in which 17 witnesses are expected to testify. McDougal, who has pleaded not guilty to the charge, is being represented by defence counsel Nigel Hughes.
It was contended that on the day in question, the couple were in their car, PGG 8291, and stopped at the traffic light at the Vlissengen and Regent Roads junction. McDougal and an accomplice allegedly pulled up on a CG motorcycle alongside the driver’s side of the vehicle and shot Raghu to his chest. It had been further alleged that one of the men grabbed a haversack containing $4 million, but Raghu’s wife held on to the haversack and was shot in the thigh. Raghu was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
The State’s case is being led by Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy. The trial begins before Justice Navindra Singh this morning.