The retrial of Shakir Mohamed, who is accused of murdering Shewraney Doobay, commenced yesterday before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member jury at the High Court, in Georgetown.
The charge against Mohamed is that on May 24, 2012, he murdered Doobay, called “Monica,” in the course or furtherance of a robbery at her Lot 19 Echilibar Villas, Campbellville, Georgetown home.
He has pleaded not guilty.
In her opening address to the jury, prosecutor Narissa Leander said that Doobay resided with her husband, Dr. Ramsundar Doobay, who left home for some time on the morning of May 24, 2012, and upon his return, found his wife lying on the ground in a pool of blood.
She said Doobay was later taken to the hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.
Leander said it is the state’s case that it is the accused who murdered Doobay.
Testifying at yesterday’s hearing was Doobay’s nephew, Jaswant Tiwari, who recalled identifying his aunt’s body to Dr. Nehaul Singh, who later performed a post-mortem examination (PME).
Police Corporal Devon Lowe, meanwhile, testified of having witnessed the PME and later receiving the certificate containing the cause of death from Dr. Singh.
Testifying also was crime scene examiner Lance Corporal Desmond Johnny, who told the court that upon his arrival at the scene, he discovered Doobay’s motionless body lying on the kitchen floor in a pool of what appeared to be blood.
Johnny said that he then examined the woman’s body and observed it sustained multiple wounds to the left side of the head, which also carried swellings and black-and-blue marks. He said too that there was an injury to the left middle finger.
The witness pointed out that he detected no signs of breakage or forced entry to the premises nor was the house ransacked. He said he caused police photographer, Lance Corporal Lakeram Dath to photograph the scene. Those photos were tendered and admitted into evidence.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Joel David, in his testimony, recalled putting the allegation to the accused, whom he said denied any involvement in the murder.
The trial continues this morning at 9.
Thirteen witnesses are expected to testify; nine police officers and four civilians.
The state is being represented by Leander in association with attorney Siand Dhurjon and Michael Shahoud, while Mohamed is being represented by attorney Maxwell McKay.
At the conclusion of Mohamed’s first trial last year, the jury was unable to arrive at a unanimous verdict.
