The trial of murder accused Yogeshwar Shivdyal, who is accused of fatally stabbing another man at a wedding house, began yesterday in the High Court and the statement he gave to the police, in which he claimed he stabbed men who were attacking him, was admitted as evidence.
Shivdyal is on trial before Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire for the murder of Anil Persaud. Shivdyal is accused of fatally stabbing Persaud, of Bella Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, at a wedding house at Independence Street, La Grange, on February 28, 2009. Persaud was hospitalised for his injuries but died some 12 hours later, on March 1, at the Georgetown Hospital.
In his statement to the police, which the judge allowed to be admitted into evidence, Shivdyal said that he went to the wedding house and was dancing when he saw a crowd. He said he went to investigate and he saw a boy, who persons identified as “Anil.”
Shivdyal said, “Anil look drunk and he walk up to me and he start fo cuff me just like that.” The accused also told the police that he walked away to the next yard, where his uncle was and his uncle went to Anil, who hit him as well.
“After that me see a set a boys in de wedding house start fo pelt and lash me and me defend meself and pull out me knife me had in me pocket an fire juk to de boys,” Shivdyal said in his statement.
He was also quoted as saying that he felt as though the knife had pierced the boys but he ran outside of the yard after the attack.
State prosecutors Rhondel Weever and Natasha Backer presented three witnesses yesterday, while Persaud’s brother is expected to testify today.
Shivdyal is represented by attorney Peter Hugh.
The trial will continue today.
