| Providence murder accused walks free |
| Wednesday, 25 August 2010 | |
|
By Latoya Giles As the murder trial of a man accused of killing Providence businessman Mahadeo Budhai came to an end yesterday, Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire for the second time in less than two months blasted the Guyana Police Force for their shoddy investigation. On trial for the murder was Nigel Forrester, 25, who was incarcerated for the last five years. Forrester was accused of killing the businessman on November 24, 2005. Budhai was found lying dead in his backyard. A post mortem examination had revealed that he died due to strangulation. Justice George-Wiltshire in her address to the court said that the prosecution failed to establish a case against Forrester. The judge further told the court that it was disgraceful to hear that the investigating rank admitted in open court that he had no evidence against Forrester, yet he arrested him. And she said that evidence which was taken by the witnesses had not directly linked Forrester to the crime. Justice George-Wiltshire lamented that it was the second time that such a case had come before her. “It is shocking, unfair and a total travesty to have persons in jail for such a lengthy time… and for something that they aren’t linked to.” She said she finds it very hard to comprehend how people could be treated in this manner. The judge then directed the men and women of the jury to return a unanimous verdict of not guilty. In upholding attorney at law Basil Williams’ no case submissions, Justice George-Wiltshire said that there was no evidence linking Forrester to crime. Prosecutors Rhondel Weever and Latcmie Rahamat represented the state. Forrester bolted from the court room after the judge reprimanded and discharged him. The star witness in the trial, Michael Jagdeo, had admitted during cross-examination that after the police had constantly accused him of being among the last persons at Budhai’s home, before he was found dead in his backyard, he (the witness) told the police that Nigel Forrester was the last man on the scene. Jagdeo was also a suspect in the murder of Budhai. Under cross-examination he denied that he was a witness of convenience who had come to give evidence to help Mrs. Budhai, who was a suspect. Only last month Justice William Ramlal had cited poor police investigation, high incidence of police incompetence and negligence as some of the main reasons certain murder trials are falling through. The judge expressed those sentiments during the murder trial of Seon Yaw, who was accused of murdering 73-year-old security guard Noel Jones, between December 5 and December 6, 2004. Justice Ramlal had said that the prosecution failed to produce evidence which showed that Yaw inflicted the injuries which caused Jones’ death. The judge further stated that although the prosecution tried its best, he had noticed a number of cases over the months which have been falling apart because of poor police investigation. He was adamant that if the police are doing a criminal investigation they must do it properly. |
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