Seelall Pharbu yesterday walked out the High Court a free man after a jury unanimously found him not guilty of unlawfully killing his cousin, Permaul Rampersaud, who the court heard had been shot while Pharbu was securing his gun.
Pharbu had been arraigned on a manslaughter charge, which stated that on November 13, 2011, he unlawfully killed Rampersaud. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
After about three hours of deliberations, in which members sought further directions from the trial judge, the jury returned the verdict of not guilty.
Justice Jo-Ann Barlow informed Pharbu that he would be free to go as the jury had spoken and had found him not-guilty.
The judge told him that he had been given a fresh start, but urged that the next time he finds himself in the company of young men, that he desist from the excessive socialising with the use of alcohol as had happened at the time of the killing.
The judge pointed out that had there not been such an excessive use of alcohol, the killing might never have occurred.
Justice Barlow further urged the visibly relieved Pharbu to encourage young men to spend their time in a more meaningful manner, as opposed to being involved in the excessive consumption of alcohol.
After the hearing, the former accused was received with open arms by his smiling relatives, some of whom were moved to tears and high in praise at their satisfaction with the verdict.
The court had heard during the trial that Pharbu and Rampersaud were among four persons travelling in a vehicle on the Lusignan public road, when three rounds were discharged, striking Rampersaud, who was sitting in the front passenger seat.
Parbhu was sitting behind his cousin.
During the trial, the court heard that the occupants were returning home from a wedding house, but on their way were sporting and consuming liquor from various rum shops.
Pharbu, who was drunk at the time, had told the court in unsworn testimony, that he was attempting to secure his licensed gun, as another occupant in the vehicle had managed to remove it from him after he had fallen into a doze.
He had said that it was while trying to get back the gun that it went off, hitting Rampersaud. The state’s case was led by prosecutor Shawnette Austin, in association with Tomicka Clarke. Meanwhile, Pharbu was represented by defence attorneys Glenn Hanoman and Tanicia Daniels.
