A caution statement given to the police by Dhupaul Singh, who is accused of fatally chopping Mahaica farmer Balkissoon in September, 2014, was read yesterday as the murder trial began before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow.
The indictment against Singh also called ‘Tailor man’ alleges that he murdered Balkissoon on September 2, 2014 at Helena Number Two, Mahaica. The incident was said to have stemmed from an argument the two men had following insults hurled by Singh regarding the dead farmer’s wife.
First in the witness box was the investigating officer Paul Turant who attested to arresting Singh and taking a voluntary statement from him. He also testified to uplifting the alleged murder weapon and witnessing both the post-mortem examination and cremation of Balkissoon’s body.
According to the caution statement read by the officer, Singh claimed that Balkissoon initiated the argument on the day of the incident.
“He bin trouble me fuss, he fyah a chop on me and I pelt a chop at he…. me chop am and defend mehself,” the statement read.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel Madan Kissoon, Turant denied that statements were only taken from the members of the victim’s family who allegedly witnessed the incident, saying that statements were taken from other persons in the area as well. The witness also denied the insinuation by Kissoon that his investigation of the alleged murder was biased against his client since investigations were done solely on what was reported by relatives of the dead farmer.
On the other hand, the officer agreed that Singh had been forthcoming in assisting investigations after he was taken into custody shortly after the incident took place.
Also called to testify was Assistant Superintendent Jermaine Grant who testified to having witnessed the taking of Singh’s caution statement by Turant.
The case is being presented by State Counsel Siand Dhurjon and Shawnette Austin and continues today at the High Court.
