One of the men accused of killing Lakeram Bishundial during a robbery at Hope, East Coast Demerara, yesterday said that he had never seen his co-accused prior to their first court appearance when they were charged with the murder.
Shawn Anthony Thom, called ‘Malik,’ of 128 Third Street, Alexander Village, and Orin David, called ‘Plait Hair,’ are on trial before Justice Franklyn Holder and a 12 member jury charged with murdering Bishundial, called ‘Mohan,’ of Manilla, Mahaica.
According to reports, Bishundial had had stopped at Hope to speak with his younger brother, Totaram “Ramo” Bishundial. Totaram, according to relatives, was getting married and was returning to the Mahaica location from Georgetown where he’d gone to withdraw some money from the bank.
Thom, the number one accused, testified that on the day of the murder—August 21, 2010, he went to Enmore to purchase some parts for his canter truck. He said that he was, however, unsuccessful and instead proceeded to Victoria to buy some cannabis. He said that his motorbike ran out of gas and that he left it at Victoria backdam and travelled out with a car to the Victoria gas station.
According to Thom, while at the gas station police arrived and “hold him.” He said that while he was taking the officers to collect his bike, they “shot me near to me eyes.” He added that he was innocent and knew nothing about the murder.
He added that the first time he saw his co-accused, David, was when he made his first appearance at the Magistrate Court.
Meanwhile, David testified that he was in Linden at the time of the murder. He said that he was drinking with his brother and other relatives and was at a Mavado Show on the night of the murder. He added that he had never been to the East Coast in his life and the first time he went was on September 11, after the police came to Linden and took him to the East Coast.
A third man, Sheik Alim Samad of Lot 128 Barr Street, Kitty, had also been charged with the murder but he was discharged at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court. Deputy Superintendent of Police Michael Kingston had testified that Samad had given him information, including David’s name, false name and his location.
Yesterday, both defence attorneys, Trenton Lake for the number one accused and George Thomas for the second accused as well as Senior State Counsel Judith Gildharie-Mursalin, who is presenting the state’s case, made their closing arguments.
Justice Holder will sum up the case on Friday morning, after which he will hand it over to the jury for a verdict.
