In T&T: Five convicted in killing of businesswoman buried alive
(Trinidad Express) Eleven years after they were charged with the murder of San Juan businesswoman Samdaye Rampersad, five men were found not guilty on Thursday of the capital charge, but instead on the lesser count of manslaughter.
After deliberating for more than seven hours, a 12-member jury returned with the guilty verdicts against Phillip “The Boss” Boodram, Roger Mootoo, Ricky Singh, Kervin Williams and Aaron “Arc Eye” Grappie at the Fifth Criminal Court of the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain following a trial that lasted more than two years. The trial was the third faced by the men following two other trials in 2009 and 2012 which resulted in the juries being unable to arrive at unanimous verdicts.
Following three days of summation by Justice Norton Jack which began on Tuesday, the jurors began their deliberations shortly before 1 p.m. on Thursday and returned with the verdicts around 8 p.m.
After the foremen of the jury announced the not guilty verdict with regard to murder, relatives of the accused For Ocean Going Vessels the opening lasts about
For Trawlers the opening lasts about The opening lasts for 1 1/2 hours men breathed a sigh of relief, only to be silenced when the verdict of guilty to manslaughter was announced. The only other criminal trial that lasted longer than this one, was that of Vindra NaipaulCoolman which proceeded for close to three years before Justice Malcolm Holdip. In the end, eight of the ten men accused of murdering Naipaul-Coolman were found not guilty. The other two are currently awaiting a retrial.