Two of the men charged with the murder of taxi-driver Seerajie Singh pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the High Court on Thursday, while the third accused walked away a free man after he was found not guilty.
Naresh Boodhoo and Anandram Dhanraj made the decision to plead guilty to manslaughter, while their co-accused Hemraj Boodwah was freed after his lawyer made a no-case submission that was upheld by Justice Roxane George.
Both Boodhoo and Dhanraj, represented by attorneys Peter Hugh and Compton Richardson, respectively, will know their faith when they return to court on May 24 for sentencing.
Previously, voir dire trials were conducted for the two men to determine whether the statements made by them could be admitted as evidence in the trial. Justice George later allowed the statements of the two accused to be admitted as evidence, since she concluded that they were obtained freely and voluntarily.
There was no statement for Boodwah, who was also represented by Hugh.
The three men were accused of shooting Singh in her mouth on the night of February 10, 2006, at the Ogle Airstrip Road, after she received a call from a nearby restaurant to make a pick up. She died while receiving medical attention at the public hospital in the city.
The prosecution led four witnesses in testimony, including the deceased’s husband and three police officers, who were involved with the investigation of Singh’s murder.
After the prosecution closed its case, Hugh made a no-case submission on Boodwah’s behalf. Justice George later told the accused after freeing him that he should not follow bad company and should learn from his mistakes and live a better life now that he is free.
