The second Preliminary Inquiry (PI) to decide whether Carolan Lynch is to stand trial for the murder of her husband, Farouk Razac, commenced yesterday when four witnesses offered evidence.
Lynch’s brother Robert Lynch Jnr, her former personal trainer Karan Dutt, her beautician Sharon Sanmoogan and a security technician Joseph Chung testified yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where the PI is being conducted by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
During the PI, more than ten witnesses are expected to testify, including the daughter of Lynch and Razac, who was expected to take the stand yesterday.
When Prosecutor Bharat Mangru called for her yesterday, Lynch’s attorney Peter Hugh informed the court that she had an examination and implored the Chief Magistrate not to issue an arrest warrant for the minor.
Lynch sat in the prisoner’s dock and was periodically communicating with her attorney while witnesses offered their testimony. Hugh also cross-examined some of them.
Lynch was first charged in May 2007 after Razac was found dead on the floor of their Eping Avenue, Bel Air home. Following a PI, then Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys in late December 2007 had ruled that no prima facie case was made out against her and she was subsequently discharged.
Shortly after the case had ended, police arrested her with a view to re-charging. She was, however, released a few days later after her lawyers moved to the High Court.
In October 2010, police filed a fresh murder charge against Lynch.
The following month, the then Acting Chief Magistrate issued a warrant for her arrest after being told by the police that Lynch had been formally served notice of the charge but had not appeared.
When the matter was called for the third time on November 10, 2010 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, she was still absent and so the charge could not be read. In the months after, she still did not appear in court and adjournment after adjournment was given.
There was no word on her whereabouts until September last year when reports surfaced that she had been working for a local tour operator unknown to police. Attempts had been made by the police to apprehend her but to no avail. Shortly after, police issued a new wanted bulletin for her. She eventually turned herself in.
Lynch and Razac had previously been charged with unlawful possession of four 9 mm magazines, one Beretta automatic pistol and 120 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, which were found at the same home on November 10, 2006. They were granted $1 million bail each and after her husband’s death Lynch faced those charges alone. They were later dismissed.
The PI continues today, when at least four other witnesses are scheduled to take the witness stand.
