With the prosecution conceding that it had no evidence linking Colin Bailey to the murder of his common-law wife—businesswoman Sirmattie Ramnaress—Justice Jo-Ann Barlow today directed the jury hearing the case, to return a formal verdict of not guilty.
Colin Grant, however, who was jointly charged with Bailey, faces sentencing after admitting his involvement in the woman’s killing.
Following what was the second day of testimonies from State witnesses, before Prosecutor Sarah Martin conceded that she had no evidence which linked Bailey to the crime, Justice Barlow described the entire exercise as one in futility.
In a firm reprimand to the prosecutorial arm of the State, Justice Barlow opined that given the obvious state of the case, it should never have been brought; as it wasted precious judicial time.
In her stern reprimand, the judge cautioned that the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) must ensure that cases satisfy the threshold needed before being brought to court; even as she noted that in the absence of even an iota of evidence, Bailey should not have been before the court.
The judge, a former Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, rhetorically questioned why it was that the accused was before her and the charge levelled against him, when no link, was established between him and the offence.
It has been five years since the former police sergeant has been incarcerated. He was charged three years after the woman was killed.
Justice Barlow said that apart from wasting judicial time, bringing such a case for trial before a jury, gives the public “false hope” that the prosecution even has a case, when that is not so.
The judge in no uncertain terms registered her displeasure with the prosecution, noting that the Court expects better.
Given Martin’s admission, defence attorney Nigel Hughes said that his client had no case to answer.
In the circumstances, the judge directed the jury to formally return a verdict of not guilty, thus discharging a visibly relieved Bailey.
Justice Barlow informed him that the prosecutor had conceded that she had no evidence linking him to the crime.
In her admonition to the former accused, the judge cautioned him to move forward with his life making every effort to live in such a way that aspersions are not cast on him, despite what people may say regarding his past.
Over the two days the trial was being heard, the court had already heard testimonies from just under a dozen witnesses—none of whom implicated Bailey in the crime.
Following the testimonies today from a number of witnesses, Martin indicated to the court that she had three remaining witnesses, after which she would close the State’s case.
It was at that point that the Court enquired whether those witnesses were coming to testify about any involvement of Bailey in the crime, to which Martin responded in the negative.
Grant had yesterday admitted his involvement in Ramnaress’ killing.
At his arraignment for the capital offence a week ago, Grant denied having anything to do with the woman’s death—pleading not guilty to the indictment—which stated that between August 30th and 31st, 2013 he murdered Ramnaress, called ‘Kavita’ or ‘Savo.’
His trial was then scheduled to commence yesterday afternoon with Bailey.
Before the commencement, however, Grant, through his attorney Dexter Todd, threw himself at the mercy of the Court—pleading to the lesser offence of manslaughter—accepting guilt that he had in fact unlawfully killed the woman.
Justice Barlow has, however, deferred his sentencing to November 2nd to facilitate the presentation of a probation report.
During Bailey’s trial, a police witnesses alluded to a caution statement which he said Grant had given.
As a result, the court heard that investigators had held a confrontation between Grant and Bailey, in which Bailey at all times remained resolute that he had no knowledge of the things said by Grant in that statement.
According to the police witness, Bailey had said that he only knew Grant as being the immediate neighbour of his reputed wife, Ramnaress.
Ramnaress, 36, had been found dead on the morning of August 31st, 2013 on the garage floor of her Diamond, East Bank Demerara home, with a stab wound and injuries to her head and body.
While petrol was strewn all over her house, it was the bond aback the yard that was set alight and destroyed.
The woman’s body was discovered after the fire service had been called about the fire.
An autopsy later determined that she died from cerebral haemorrhage as a result of blunt cranial trauma, compounded by fractured spine.
Bailey had been a suspect in the murder, but during the course of investigations, the man had continuously urged police to look beyond him as he suggested their misdirected focus was allowing the killers to go free.
In November 2015, Grant was charged with the woman’s murder after police, being in receipt of information, were led to Grant, who was found in possession of the deceased’s laptop which had her initials engraved on the battery.
Grant then reportedly led the police to Ramnaress’ 11-point diamond ring, which he had presented to his girlfriend.
