The former reputed wife of Hamid Latiff, called ‘Crapo’ who is on trial before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow for the 2010 murder of her 16-year old brother, testified yesterday that she had seen Latiff and her brother on a dam, shortly before pulling her brother’s bloodied body from a nearby trench.
Latiff was indicted on a charge that states that on November 12, 2010, at Cane Grove, East Bank Demerara, he murdered 16-year-old Mulchand Murilall. The incident was said to have stemmed from a soured relationship the accused had shared with the sister of the dead man.
Following the empanelling of the jury on Tuesday, when the trial continued yesterday, Latiff’s former reputed wife was among four witnesses called.
In her evidence-in-chief, Bhagmattie Murilall called ‘Vashtie’ described her six-year relationship with the accused as “turbulent” as Latiff was constantly abusive towards her. She related that the abuse often stemmed from his drinking and inability to bring in much needed income to support the family. This caused her to eventually end the relationship from which three children were born.
Murilall stated that on the day of the incident, she had lodged a complaint against Latiff at the police station after he made threats to her.
Later that same day, Murilall said, she recalled seeing Latiff and her brother on a dam and hearing raised voices coming from the same direction.
Having heard what sounded like an argument, Murilall said, she made her way to the dam where she had seen her brother. However, when she got there, she ended up having to pull her brother who was unresponsive and covered in blood from a close by trench.
Meanwhile, under cross-examination by defence attorney Bernard Dos Santos, Murilall admitted that she did not actually witness the accused stab her brother.
On the other hand, she denied the suggestion that she had struck up a relationship with a police officer during her involvement with Latiff. She also shot down the suggestion that she had neglected her children in the past.
Safraz Hussain, a friend of the deceased, in his evidence-in-chief identified Latiff as the person who fatally stabbed his friend during an argument.
Hussain told the court that he was sitting with another friend and Mulchand when a confrontation between the dead man and the accused ensued.
He further stated that it was during the argument that Latiff stabbed Mulchand in the chest with a 12 inches long ‘Rambo’ knife before pushing Mulchand in the trench and fleeing the scene.
Under cross examination by De Santos, Hussain admitted that on the night in question, he had smoked a ‘joint’ of marijuana (cannabis sativa) while liming with Mulchand for a number of hours. He however denied a suggestion that he (Hussain) had been “high” during the period the incident occurred.
The case, which is being presented by State attorneys Siand Dhurjon and Shawnette Austin is expected to continue today.
