Jury to deliberate Monday on 2013 Mash Day murder trial

Lawyers on Friday summed up their arguments for the final time in the trial of two young men accused of the February 23, 2013 murder of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD) businessman Kumar Mohabir.
Mohabir was reportedly with his family partaking in Mashramani celebrations at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, and was attacked and killed by a group of men who were armed with broken bottles. The altercation reportedly stemmed from Mohabir stepping on one of his attackers’ feet.

Charged with Mohabir’s murder are Devon Thomas and 25-year-old Randy Isaacs. The duo is on trial for the capital offence before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member jury at the Demerara High Court. They are being represented by Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels, and Narissa Leander. Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Muntaz Ali are representing the State.
Dozens of witnesses have testified in the trial on behalf of the prosecution and defence including Police ranks who investigated the killing, relatives of the now-dead man, and a pathologist who conducted a post-mortem examination on the remains of Mohabir.
Justice Kissoon will address the jurors on Monday before they are sent to deliberate. Following the close of the case for the prosecution on Thursday, Thomas and Isaacs were called on to lead a defence. They both elected to give unsworn statements.
Thomas told the jury that Police went to his home at Better Hope South, ECD, and informed him that he was wanted for questioning in relation to Mohabir’s murder.
“Police took me and my brother-in-law for questioning at the Ruimveldt Police Station. They asked me and show me a paper with a lot of names, I tell them that I did not know the names of any persons. Five minutes after they put on shackle and handcuffs on me. Police kept me at the station overnight,” Thomas said in his statement to the court.
According to the murder accused, he was placed on an identification parade and “10 minutes after Police ranks came back and told him that he get point out for a murder that happened on Vlissengen Road.” He added, “I told them [Police ranks] I don’t know what you are talking about.”’
Thomas said that he met his co-accused for the first time when they were arraigned at the Magistrate’s Court.
“I ask he [Isaacs] what is the reason why he here…That was the first time in my life I ever see Randy Isaacs or ever speak to him. I come in prison as a teenage boy. With all due respect members of the jury, I know to my heart, God knows my heart, that I am innocent, I am really innocent,” said Thomas in conclusion.
Meanwhile, Isaacs, formerly of Montrose, ECD, told the court that Police ranks came to his home and arrested him. “They told me that I was going to be placed on an ID parade,” he said, adding that Police never informed him of how an ID parade works.
He said, “When I go into the room, no one looked like me, no one had height like me. I was the only person with a funny eye and tattoo. They tell me I was picked out as a positive suspect. I told them that I don’t know anything about any murder.”
“Since I was in prison, I was age 17. My father died while I was in prison. I am innocent of this charge. I did not bore anybody; I did not kill anybody. I would like to get my freedom to go and take care of my mother,” Isaacs said in closing.