Kurt Clarke, who is accused of fatally stabbing another man outside the Baroombar Club after being addressed by a gay slur, will stand trial for murder in the High Court.
Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday committed Clarke, a taxi driver of Lot 1159 Pigeon Place, South Ruimveldt, to stand trial after ruling that a prima facie case had been made out against him.
It is alleged that Clarke killed Jamal Fernandes, called “Gaga,” on September 4, 2013. He has not been required to plead to the capital offence.
At yesterday’s hearing, Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry informed Clarke that after reviewing the evidence, the court was satisfied that a prima facie case for murder had been made out against him.
She then committed him to stand trial in the High Court at the next sitting of the Demerara assizes commencing this month.
Clarke, after briefly consulting with his attorney Peter Hugh, told the court that he is innocent of the charge levelled against him and added that he will reserve his witnesses for the High Court.
Clarke was previously committed to stand trial on December 26 last year. His case was however subsequently reopened and continued until yesterday when he was once again committed.
The court had been told at that time that Fernandes was stabbed after having an argument with Clarke, as he was making his way from the Baroombar Club located on North Road.
It is the police’s case that Clarke stabbed Fernandes after he [Fernandes] addressed him by a gay slur. The deceased was stabbed several times.
Police Prosecutor Corporal Bharrat Mangru had told the court that Fernandes was standing at North Road in the company of two females, when Clarke called one of the females “sexy.”
He said Fernandes in turn addressed Clarke by the slur and an argument ensued between the two. Clarke then stabbed Fernandes five times in the chest area and the wounded man died on the way to the hospital, Prosecutor Mangru said.
