Bisram case switches from red to green; start witness called as PI commences
Bisram leaving court on Monday
The Preliminary Inquiry into the Marcus Bisram murder investigation officially got underway Thursday at the Whim Magistrate’s Court before her worship Renita Singh where the prosecution called their star witness.
The 17-year-old was the only witness that the defense had a key interest in cross-examining and that was done yesterday, giving the matter a significant push towards an approach to the end as the matter is expected to be done by way of paper committal as was ruled by the magistrate earlier this week.
On Thursday afternoon when the matter was called at approximately 13:15hours, the Magistrate enquired of the prosecution the age of the star witness and when it was disclosed that he was 17 years old, the courtroom was cleared for the remainder of the proceeding which ended at 17:45hours.
Sanjeev Datadin, one of the lawyer spoke with the press following the conclusion of the day’s proceedings.
“Well the PI has finally gotten started we have been saying all along that this is what we wanted, this is the only witness we needed to cross-examine, we have cross-examined him today it went very well it will all come out, sooner or later. I know there are restrictions about what could be reported coming out of a preliminary Inquiry but I am telling you we have been saying all along that there was no evidence and I think that today will vindicate us that there is none” he told explained.
According to him, all statements are expected to be properly marked and tendered as there is a need for some certification and that is being handled by the prosecution as it is their responsibility. Datadin explains that the defense expects that the matter will go smoothly going forward as he expects that the court will reach the point of submission soonest.
The state prosecutor Ms. Stacy Goodings when approached for comment, indicated that she is not allowed to engage the press on the matter.
Attorney at Law Dexter Todd who is also appearing for the defense regarded the day’s proceedings as one which went ‘quite alright’ as they were able to take evidence from the prosecution’s main witness who was allowed to do uninterrupted while the defense was also allowed to put it’s case forward.
“The magistrate did take her time in giving both the state and the defense counsel to finish this particular witness so that we do not come back on another occasion to complete this witness and I think that, that was very crucial in light of what has been happening, I think the approach and the conduct of the magistrate is very commendable to ensure that this witness comes to completion on both examinations in chief, cross-examination, and re-examination,” Todd told the media on Thursday afternoon.
The prosecution at the beginning of the case indicated that the state would like to call approximately eighteen witnesses to the stand but after the ruling of the court last week that the matter will proceed by way of paper committal, those witnesses will not necessarily be called but their statements would be tendered into evidence.
Marcus Bisram is accused of ordering the murder of Faiyaz Narinedatt back in 2016. There are five other persons who were previously the subject of a PI into the same matter and they have all been committed to stand trial in the high court.
Bisram who was extradited from the United States where he was charged with the capital offense has been claiming his innocence of the crime through his defense lawyers. Since his return, the matter has been receiving much media and public attention with the many delays and circus of events that prevented the start of the Preliminary Inquiry. The matter will be called again on February 20, 2020.
