The two-week-long High Court trial of Nandkumar Singh who was accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and her partner ended yesterday when the jury returned a verdict of not guilty of murder on both counts but guilty of manslaughter.
After some three hours of deliberating the jury returned at 8.20 pm with an eleven to one guilty verdict in favour of a conviction on the lesser count of manslaughter. A few minutes prior to reaching the verdict the jury had requested further directions.
Singh sat emotionless in the dock after the verdict was read. His attorney James Bond then indicated that he wished to make a plea of mitigation on behalf of his client.
Trial judge Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards granted his request and deferred the hearing to Thursday. Singh will be sentenced then.
Singh was indicted on two counts of murder for killing Feiona Persaud, 14, and Surujpaul Stanley, 19, at Enterprise, East Coast Demerara on August 20, 2003.
The prosecution, led by State Counsel Judy Latchman, led evidence to show that Singh called “Chow Pakar” of Mahaica journeyed to Enterprise on the day in question to kill Persaud, who had ended a relationship with him, and her new partner Stanley.
During the trial the jury heard from the prosecution that Singh went to Enterprise and hid in bushes near Stanley’s home and upon seeing the couple he opened fire. After shooting the young couple he fled the area but was subsequently caught at Victoria, East Coast Demerara.
In his defence Singh’s lawyer, James Bond said his client was never at Enterprise on the alleged day. He said Singh was at home when police turned up and arrested him. Singh gave an unsworn statement from the dock corroborating this story.
But a caution statement Singh gave to police was admitted into evidence. In the statement he spoke of how hurt he was over the split from Persaud and said he had visited Enterprise prior to the shooting to talk things over with her. She had refused to speak with him and he went away but returned with a gun to shoot her.
In the statement Singh said he did not mean to kill Stanley. He had also referred to Persaud as the woman, “wha mess up me life”.
