Omesh Chaitram, who was accused of killing a vagrant on Alexander Street, Lacytown in 2012, was yesterday set free after he was found not guilty by a jury.
Chaitram was on trial before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member jury in the High Court for the murder of Wendell Fresco, also known as “Country”. Both men were living on the streets at that time and had ended up in a row over money stolen from Chaitram while he was sleeping.
After the verdict was delivered, Justice Singh told Chaitram that he was given a second chance and he should make the most of it. Chaitram murmured a thank you to the judge and gripped a Bible as the shackles were removed from his ankles.
Senior State Counsel Judith Gildharie-Mursalin, in her closing arguments, begged the jury to give Fresco justice because “Omesh wanted to exact revenge” after his money was stolen. She said Chaitram’s “deadly aim” was manifested when he “stitch the knife in his waist and went in search of Country.”
“Blackboy (Chaitram) is clutching that Bible. I hope he reads Exodus 20:13: Thou shall not kill. Jury let justice be done in this case,” she said.
Defence attorney Raymond Alli stated that the police investigations were flawed and argued that his client was forced to sign a caution statement in which he admitted to killing Fresco.
Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh had testified that the murder weapon was shoved through and through Fresco’s heart, giving him less than twenty minutes to live afterward.
