Antonio Jaisingh was on Monday afternoon freed of the 2010 Sarah Johanna rum shop murder; however, the key witness is now under investigation for lying.
Jaisingh was on trial before Justice Navindra Singh, accused of fatally stabbing Randy Joseph after an argument at Brian’s Liquor Bar, Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara in November 2010.
Freed: Antonio Jaisingh
The decision came after two hours of deliberations, as the 12-member jury unanimously found Jaisingh not guilty of murder and the lesser count of manslaughter. The State had contended that some time between November 26 and November 27, 2010, Jaisingh murdered Joseph.
However, Damon Ramgulan, who had said that he had seen the murder accused shove the deceased, recanted his statement on the witness stand, where he admitted that he did not actually see the stabbing. Guyana Times understands that Ramgulan is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on perjury charges.
The former murder accused fled the court after he was freed into the arms of waiting relatives.
“I feel good. I was in jail seven years for something I didn’t do, [but] God is great!” the freed man exclaimed.
The State’s case was presented by Prosecutors Siand Dhurjon and Tuanna Hardy, while Attorney-at-Law Latchmie Rahamat represented Jaisingh. Justice Singh told the freed man that he hoped that he did not get into trouble again.
