Omesh Chaitram was yesterday charged with the murder of fellow vagrant Wendell Freso, whom he is accused of stabbing to death in a row over money.
Chaitram was not required to plead when the capital charge was read to him, but he told the court that he was innocent and he threatened to kill himself after he was remanded to prison to await a preliminary inquiry into the charge.
It is alleged that on July 10, at Georgetown, Chaitram murdered Freso. Freso, called `Country’, 35, of Yarrow Dam, Ruimveldt, was killed at about 4am on July 10 at Alexander Street, Lacytown, Georgetown. Police said that Freso was involved in an argument with his assailant over a sum of money, during which he was stabbed to his chest and abdomen.
After being read the charge by Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, the dishevelled Chaitram repeatedly put his finger in the air and indicated to the court that he wanted to say something.
When asked by Magistrate Octive-Hamilton what he wanted to say, he said that he did nothing to the deceased and that it was Freso who had robbed him and pierced him with a piece of steel while he was asleep. The magistrate then explained to the man that the appropriate time will come when he would be able to tell his story.
Chaitram, who wore a blood-stained jersey, was, however, invited into the pit of the court by the presiding magistrate, who wanted to get a proper look at the injury he allegedly sustained at the hand of the deceased.
The magistrate informed that she did notice what appeared to have been a scratch and she ordered that the accused be provided medical attention.
The investigating rank at this point, however, informed the court that Chaitram had already received medical treatment before being taken to court building.
The prosecution requested that the accused be remanded to prison.
After being told that he would be remanded to prison and had to return to court on July 27, the accused said that he would kill himself, while proclaiming his innocence. “I ain feel I gon come back yuh know, I gon kill me-self,” he said, adding, “I ain kill nobody. I ain know wah dis police saying [pointing to the investigating rank].”
