A statement of murder accused Adjodha Persaud, in which he admitted to stabbing his nephew Chaitram Gooroodiyal, was admitted as evidence at his trial yesterday.
The prosecution, led by Rhondel Weever and Renita Singh, closed its case yesterday and Persaud will be called upon by Justice Navindra Singh to lead his defence today when the trial continues. In addition, both the defence and prosecution are expected to make their closing arguments to the jury.
When the trial resumed in the High Court yesterday, police witness Ricardo Innis testified about the statement he took from Persaud.
Innis told the court that he cautioned Persaud before he took the statement from him. The content of the statement was also read to the jury, after which Innis was cross-examined by Persaud’s lawyer, Peter Hugh.
In his statement to the police, Persaud stated that he was drinking with a friend when Gooroodiyal came and asked them for a drink. He stated that he gave him a drink and Gooroodiyal ended up in an argument with him and his friend. He told police: “Me lef an go in me house and me pick up a knife.
He run in de house and me juk he in de stomach and the knife lef in he.” The accused also said in his statement that Gooroodiyal then ran out of the house and fell.
Persaud, who is now in a wheel chair after a stroke, allegedly stabbed Gooroodiyal at Second Field, Cummings Lodge, on October 2, 2009, after an argument over a piece of land. They were in the habit of constantly arguing about the land, where they both lived and which the accused wanted to sell.
Poonam Gooroodiyal, the niece of the deceased and the great-niece of the accused had testified that the men were arguing for about an hour, after which Persaud went into his apartment and returned with a knife. Persaud then took the knife and stabbed Gooroodiyal.
Gooroodiyal’s mother, Minoutie Gooroodiyal, had also testified that she saw her brother (the accused) stabbed her son which caused him to die.
