After a seven-week trial for the murder of 34-year-old dental technician Vishnu Santie, one of the accused has been released while the second one was returned to prison after the 12-member jury failed to deliver a verdict.
Santie, known as ‘Boysie’, of Lot 57 Stewartville Pasture, West Coast Demerara, died on June 29, 2005 after he was shot seven times. A post-mortem examination performed by Pathologist Nehaul Singh revealed that the man died of haemorrhage and shock due to several gunshot wounds.
Accused of murder were Peter Ray Kassim, known as ‘Donkey’ and Satnanand Sahadeo, called ‘Boysie’. They were represented by attorneys Hookumchand and George Thomas respectively.
The number one accused was released during the trial after it was found that there was not sufficient evidence and his lawyer made a no-case submission which was upheld by Justice Franklin Holder.
The matter concluded yesterday when a hung jury returned to the courtroom after four and a half hours of deliberation. An expressionless Sahadeo was led away in handcuffs before being transported back to the Georgetown Prisons. He is expected to face retrial.
