Jury empanelled to try accused in 2007 murder of gold dealer
On Monday, a jury was empanelled by Justice Jo Ann Barlow to try Neville Chandrawattie called “Sunil”, who is accused of the 2007 murder of gold and diamond dealer Dharam Chanmangra.
Murder accused: Neville Chandrawattie
He is alleged to have murdered the man on April 21, 2007, in Essequibo during the course/furtherance of a robbery. Upon Chandrawattie’s arraignment at the Demerara High Court, he pleaded not guilty to the charge. He is being represented by lawyer Siand Dhurjon.
State Counsel Cecilia Corbin is leading the case for the prosecution.
Media reports are that on the day in question, gunmen carried out a robbery at El Dorado Trading at Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini). During the ordeal, Chanmangra was shot and killed.
It was reported that the men escaped with cash and millions of dollars in raw gold. Chandrawattie was initially charged with the man’s murder in 2013.
Following a preliminary inquiry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts in 2017, a Magistrate found that there was sufficient evidence against him to warrant a trial at the High Court.
