A witness yesterday testified that he recognised murder accused Alvin Semple as one of the men who invaded his father’s home after a rag he used to hide his face fell off during the fatal attack.
Yogindra Teekaram was at the time testifying at the trial of Semple, who is accused of murdering Balram Teekaram on April 16, 2011 in the course or furtherance of a robbery.
In testimony via Skype from the United States, Yogindra said that he was well-acquainted with Semple from the community, where they had also played cricket together.
Yogindra recalled himself and his father securing their Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara house and retiring to bed. However, he said he was later awakened around 1am on April 16, by something cold being pressed against his face.
Yogindra said he was greeted by two men, who repeatedly demanded that he hand over cash and jewellery. He said he told the men that they had no money and was beaten as a result.
He told the court that he then heard the sound of a lash coming from his father’s bedroom, which was followed by groans from the older Teekaram. Yogindra said it was at this point the he realised there was a third person in the house.
According to the witness, he repeatedly began begging the men not to hurt him and his father and told them that he would give them whatever they wanted.
He said that during the ordeal, which lasted for some 12 minutes, the rag that Semple used to cover his face fell off and it was at this point that he was able to recognise him.
He said that Semple, who was no stranger to him, quickly retied the rag to his face.
The court also heard from the witness, who was 16 years old at the time of the attack, that after climbing over the wall to get into his father’s room, he noticed a large pool of blood gushing from his eye.
He said that after the attackers left, he was able to summon assistance from neighbours, who later rushed him and his father to the Leonora Cottage Hospital. He said his father was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he died three days later.
Yogindra told the court that Semple had asked him sometime before the attack whether his father owned a gun and he had told him no.
It is the state’s case that the accused and others entered Teekaram’s home with the intention of robbing him and in the process the man sustained injuries which resulted in his death.
Semple is on trial before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and a 12-member mixed jury at the High Court, in Georgetown.
The trial, which commenced on Monday, is scheduled to hear from the final of its nine witnesses when it continues this afternoon.
The state is represented by prosecutors Shawnette Austin and Tamieka Clarke, while Semple is being represented by defence attorney Madan Kissoon.
