Police ranks testify as trial begins for alleged “hitman”

Parika fuel dealer’s murder

Three ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were called to testify on Monday when the trial of Kurt Thomas, who is accused of the April 30, 2016 murder of Parika, East Bank Essequibo fuel dealer, Seeram Singh, commenced before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-person jury.
According to the indictment presented against Thomas by State Prosecutors Tuanna Hardy and Tyra Bakker, on April 30, 2016, he murdered Seeram Singh during the course/furtherance of a robbery.
The prosecutors are contending that Thomas killed Seeram Singh while robbing him of jewellery. Based on reports, Singh, 52, of Lot 40 Parika Outfall, East Bank Essequibo, was stabbed to his abdomen and shot twice – to his head and hip. The bullet to his head was at close range and may have been the fatal shot.
Media reports at the time stated that Singh was talking to someone on his mobile phone when he was attacked and stabbed. In an attempt to raise an alarm, the injured man ran towards a shop, but the gunman gave chase and caught up with him. A scuffle ensued and it was then the suspect discharged two rounds at Seeram Singh.
Reports are as the businessman fell, the gunman relieved him of two gold chains and escaped. Singh was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, West Coast Demerara, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police Sergeant Keno DeSouza was the first witness called to give testimony.
He told the court that during May 2016, he was stationed at the Parika Police Station and attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He said that on May 4, 2016, at 11:15h, he was present at the Ezekiel Funeral Home where he witnessed a post-mortem examination being conducted on the body of Seeram Singh.
During Monday’s hearing of the trial, Sergeant DeSouza tendered into evidence seven photographs which he took of Seeram Singh’s body during the post-mortem examination. He also tendered into the evidence the post-mortem report.
Also testifying was Police Corporal Danian Williams, who was stationed at the Parika Police Station in 2016. He told the court that on May 1, 2016, at around 18:00h, he was performing duties when he received certain information and proceeded to a Superbet location at Parika, East Bank Essequibo, where he contacted Thomas of High Park, Essequibo, whom he immediately told of a murder allegation. “I immediately cautioned him…I arrested him and escorted him to the Parika Police Station where I placed him in custody. I reported to Police Inspector Bowman upon completion of the arrest. He [Thomas] said he did not kill anyone,” the police witness recounted during his testimony.
Under cross-examination by Thomas’ counsel, Lyndon Amsterdam, Corporal Williams admitted that he did not speak with anyone who might have witnessed Seeram Singh’s killing. When asked by the counsel how he received information in relation to the suspect in the murder, the police witness said that Inspector Bowman telephoned him and provided him with the information.
He said that Inspector Bowman instructed him to go to the Superbet location and arrest a male [Thomas] who was there, dressed in a vest and short pants and whose nickname is “Yankee”.
Meanwhile, Police Constable Delon Younge, who is stationed at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station, said that on April 30, 2016, he was performing duties at the Enquiries Office at the Parika Police Station when he received a phone call about a shooting at Parika Outfall, East Bank Essequibo.
He said that he and another Police rank were deployed to the crime scene.  This trial continues today at the High Court in Demerara.