Four of the five men who were charged with the murder of kidnapped businessman Rajendra Singh were yesterday committed to stand trial at the High Court.
Doodnauth Ketwaroo, called ‘Pumpkin,’ 27, of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, Tony Thomas, 28, of Bel Air Village, Georgetown, Michael Lewis, called ‘Jet Lee,’ 38, of Sheriff Street, Georgetown, Adony James, 32, of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown and Sheldon Chase, 29, of Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown, were charged with murdering Rajendra Singh between April 5th and April 9th 2014, at the Le Repentir Cemetery.
All the men except Chase were committed to stand trial at the conclusion of a year-long preliminary inquiry into the charge and which saw about 40 witnesses testifying.
Chase was hospitalised due to failing health and could not continue to attend the preliminary inquiry with the other defendants.
As a result, the court is awaiting Chase’s recovery for two other witnesses who are waiting to testify in order for the court to decide on Chases’ fate.
In announcing her decision yesterday, presiding Magistrate Ann McLennan informed the four men that after she considered all the evidence which was brought by the prosecution before the court, she was convinced that a prima facie case was made out against them for the charge of murder.
In addition, she said that a sufficient case was made out to have them stand trial at the next sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes.
The defendants, who were represented by attorneys Nigel Hughes, Jed Vasconcellos, James Bond and Peter Hugh, stood speechless and stared steadily at the magistrate and momentarily glanced at each other as she related the court’s decision.
They all remained silent when asked by the magistrate if they had anything to say.
Singh was held at gunpoint and kidnapped from his business place at Foulis, East Coast Demerara on April 5th, 2014. A multi-million dollar ransom was later demanded for his safe return. However, the businessman’s body was discovered on the morning of April 9th in the cemetery, with his hands bound and a gunshot wound to his head.
