A police witness who was giving evidence in the Zulfikar Namdar murder inquiry at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court yesterday was threatened by one of the accused.
Sources told Stabroek News that the prisoner, Delwyn Croft rushed up to detective corporal, Komal Pitama with an ice pick and threatened to kill him.
The prisoner was three feet away when he was restrained by other police officers present in the court.
The magistrate immediately adjourned the court and rescheduled the matter to Thursday November 19 before going into her chambers.
Meanwhile, at the end of the court session, Croft sustained injuries to his right eye at the hands of another prisoner and had to be treated at the hospital.
Reports are that Croft tried to attack the other prisoner with the same ice pick after he was rebuked about his behaviour in the court.
The prisoner, in defence, dealt Croft a kick to the eye. He is also facing charges for the same murder.
A source told Stabroek News that the situation could have been avoided had there been adequate security in the court.
According to the source, police officers risk their lives to give evidence in these high profile cases and it is not fair that they are not given proper protection. “How they expect the police to testify in these matters again?” he asked.
There were also criticisms about how the prisoner was able to enter the courtroom with a weapon and that it was not taken away from him even after the incident.
Reports are that Pitama was being cross-examined by one of the prisoners in the case, Alan Dorsette and based on his response, Croft rushed up to him.
Around 7:15 pm on September 10, 2013, Namdar known as ‘Vicky,’ was shot dead by gunmen who invaded his grocery and home.
The attackers carted off at least $1M in cash in the attack.
Witnesses had recounted that about five gunmen invaded the shop and shot him through the grillwork as he stood at the counter.
His friend and shop help, 17-year old Stephen Mohammed was shot to his left thigh during the attack, while his mother, Fazila Namdar, who was holding her three-year old granddaughter, was also assaulted by the men who demanded cash and jewellery.
