The trial of Lurick Fiffee who is accused of the 2018 killing of his ex-girlfriend Rosemary Rudder, had to be aborted yesterday after one of the jurors realized that he is related to one of the witnesses called by the prosecution.
Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall who was presiding over the trial, noted that in light of the disclosure made by the juror who said that his ability to impartially hear the case may be affected; he would be discharged.
Out of an abundance of caution and moreover underscoring the interest of justice, the Judge discharged the entire panel and informed the accused that he would now have to wait for his trial to commence again before a new panel.
Though the names of the witnesses had been called out when the case was empaneled a week ago, the juror said that he did not realize that his cousin was listed among those to testify until after she was called to take the stand. He explained that he knows her by a different name and not the one which had been previously read out in court.
In all the circumstances, Justice Morris-Ramlall aborted the trial.
Fiffee is charged with murdering Rudder between March 30th and 31st of 2018; an allegation he denies.
Rudder, 32, formerly of Old Road, Eccles, East Bank Demerara, was found dead after reportedly being involved in a heated argument with Fiffee.
The results of an autopsy stated that she died from compression to the neck consistent with choking and blunt trauma to the head.
