August 9 has been set as the tentative date for the ruling in the Neesa Gopaul murder preliminary inquiry (PI).
The announcement was made yesterday at the conclusion of the PI by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry who is presiding over the matter at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court
She said that on that day she will afford the defence an opportunity to clarify any queries it may wish to make and then she will hand down her ruling if the court requires no further time to respond to the possible queries.
At yesterday’s hearing, Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos made further submissions in response to the prosecution’s case against his client, which he argued was fraught with speculation.
Counsel in his oral submissions contended that the prosecution had only one legally admissible piece of evidence against his client.
The lawyer, however, emphasized that “suspicion is not proof and cannot be equated with proof.”
He submitted that from the facts presented by the prosecution during the PI, the court has to ask itself whether those facts are enough to amount to a prima facie case of murder.
“I say not! and ask the court to so find,” counsel asserted.
After De Santos’ submissions, the prosecution declined to respond.
Neesa’s mother, Bibi Sharima Gopaul and her lover Jarvis Small were charged with the teen’s murder.
The allegation is that between September 24 and October 2 at Madewini, Linden-Soesdyke Highway, Bibi Sharima Gopaul and Small, both of 13 Public Road Leonora, West Coast Demerara, murdered Neesa Lolita Gopaul.
The teenager’s body was stuffed into a suitcase, which was discovered by a group of picnickers on October 2 anchored in the creek at the Emerald Tower Resort.
De Santos is representing Small while Sharima Gopaul is being represented by attorney Vic Puran.
