The Preliminary Inquiry into the charge against Regan Rodrigues for the murder of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing was cut short yesterday on account of a witness falling ill.
After taking the stand to testify, Detective Inspector Suraj Singh complained to the magistrate of feeling unwell. Singh had just begun being led in in his evidence in chief by special prosecutor Nigel Hughes, when he asked for time to compose himself.
Given the witness’s ill health, Magistrate Judy Latchman suggested that he be bound over to the next date of the hearing, which is tomorrow.
Hughes had also hinted to the magistrate that he wishes to close the case for the prosecution on that day.
Rodrigues was charged in August of last year with the murder of Crum-Ewing subsequent to a gun that was linked to the crime allegedly being found in his possession. Rodrigues was cleared of the gun and ammunition possession charges in January of this year by Magistrate Fabayo Azore after the prosecution failed to prove that he had knowledge and possession of the items.
Crum-Ewing was slain on the evening of March 10, 2015 at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, while urging residents to vote against the incumbent PPP/C at the May 11 elections.
He was shot five times, including three times to the head.
For weeks prior to his death, he had held a one-man protest outside the office of the then attorney general Anil Nandlall, calling for his resignation over controversial statements he made during a telephone conversation with a Kaieteur News reporter that was made public.
