Trial begins for man accused of killing Better Hope pensioner

Sherwin Clarke, aka “Hot Skull,” has pleaded not guilty to the capital offence of murder in the August 21, 2016 killing of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) pensioner David Ramkissoon.

On Thursday, the murder accused, who is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Damien Da Silva, was arraigned before Demerara High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon. A mixed 12-member jury heard that Clarke killed the pensioner during the course of a robbery at the 76-year-old man’s home.
State Counsels Mohammed Ali and Taneisha Saygon are representing the prosecution.
Ramkissoon was found by his son Anand Ramkissoon who, along with his wife and two children, also lived with his father. He found his father’s body facing the wall in a sitting position in a pool of blood. An undisclosed amount of cash was missing from the home.
It was reported that following the discovery of the pensioner’s body, footprints were seen in the mud at the back of his yard, leading to an alleyway. Along with the footprints, drops of blood were spotted, and they led to a shack located a short distance from the slain man’s house.