Fuel dealer’s murder
State Prosecutors Tuanna Hardy and Tyra Bakker will recall their final witness in the trial of Curt Thomas, called “Yankee”, who is accused of the April 30, 2016 murder of Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) fuel dealer Seeram Singh.
On Monday, the final witness, Rajmohan Autar faced intense cross-examination by Thomas’s Attorney.
The witness was unable to continue his testimony on Monday owing to difficulties with the connection at the Lusignan prison from where Thomas was appearing virtually. He will return to the witness stand this morning. This will be followed by closing addresses from the prosecution and defence. Trial Judge Navindra Singh will sum up the evidence on Wednesday before putting the case to the jury for deliberation on a verdict.
According to the indictment against Thomas, on the day in question, he murdered Singh during the course/furtherance of a robbery. The Prosecutors are contending that Thomas killed Singh while robbing him of jewellery. Based on reports, Singh, 52, of Lot 40 Parika Outfall, 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 Singh. Reports were 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 (WCD), where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
