Boxing night murder trial
– to know fate in coming days
Vishawantie Ragnauth and Nyron Thakurdyal, who are on trial for a relative’s Skull City, Patentia, West Bank Demerara murder, which took place on December 26, 2014, addressed the court via unsworn statements on Tuesday, telling Judge and jury that they are innocent of the charge before them. Giving an unsworn statement meant that they could not be cross-examined.
Ragnauth, called “Shelly”, confirmed that her uncle was indeed cursing her and that their fight got physical. She also admitted that her reputed husband, Nyron Thakurdyal, went to defend her after the late Sunil Ramsundar grabbed her.
She said she stopped a car because she was going to report the matter at the Wales Police Station and noted that she did not have a knife or a cellphone in her possession.
Nyron Thakurdyal’s account of the event was similar as he claimed his reputed wife’s uncle fell to the ground after he restrained him from hitting Ragnauth. During his unsworn statement, which saw his accent change from Guyanese to American, the defendant expressed that after he saw Ramsundar holding his reputed wife, he went over and grabbed his hands.
“I told him to let her go and when he let her go, he ended up falling towards the fence…we jump in the car and [Vishawantie] holler out to drive to the station,” he noted.
“Next thing the Police told me go in the lockup… then a few days later, they brought this allegation of murder against me,” Thakurdyal, also called “One Eye” added.
Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Brijmohan in his testimony gave the cause of death as shock and hemorrhage, and stab wound to the neck. The Pathologist told the jury that there were injuries to the right forearm, right chest, left part of the neck and jaw; noting that a puncture to an artery caused excessive blood loss.
The jury also heard that Ramsundar was also stabbed to the left palm, which the Pathologist said indicated that the injury was defensive in nature. Under cross-examination by Defence Attorney Nigel Hughes, the doctor however admitted that the possibility exists that the deceased could have fallen on a paling stave or a sharp object other than the kitchen knife that was said to be the murder weapon. However, under re-examination by Prosecutor Lisa Cave, the expert witness said it was more likely that it was the knife that caused Ramsundar’s fatal injuries.
Police Constable Alex Solomon had tendered the brown handled kitchen knife that he said the accused woman had in her possession under her clothing. He claimed that Ragnauth took it out in his presence. Under cross-examination, he admitted that he did not find any cellphones on either of the accused persons at the Wales Police Station. It was only last week that off-duty Police Lance Corporal Benjamin Dufu, who was giving the duo a lift on the Wales public road, told the court that he drove into the Wales Police Station after he grew suspicious of them.
According to Police reports in 2014, the incident occurred at about 22:00h where it was alleged that Sunil Ramsundar’s sister was reportedly being assaulted by her daughter, Vishawantie, and Vishawantie’s reputed husband, Thakurdyal. At that time, reports stated that the now deceased man enquired from his sister why she was crying, and upon learning that the couple had physically assaulted her, the man approached his niece for an explanation. However, this reportedly turned into a heated argument, during which Ramsundar was stabbed about his body. He collapsed on the spot and was pronounced dead on arrival to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.
Both the prosecution and defence presented closing addresses before the jury and Justice Sandil Kissoon. The matter will be sent to deliberation in the coming days.
