Saturday 29th January 2005

Dr Chandra Naraynsingh murder inquiry —
Emotions run high as magistrate, attorney clash

By SUSAN MOHAMMED

DEPUTY Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington yesterday warned attorney Prakash Ramadhar against getting “personal,” “facetious,” and “emotional” in his questioning of State witness Shawn Parris. There were several clashes between Wellington and Ramadhar in yesterday’s hearing of the preliminary inquiry into the murder of Dr Chandra Naraynsingh. On five occasions, Wellington disallowed Ramadhar’s questions to Parris. Parris was put out of the courtroom several times during the clashes between bench and bar. Ramadhar is defending murder accused Seeromanie Maharaj, who is charged with Chandra’s murder together with her husband Prof Vijay Naraynsingh and businessman Elton Ramasir.

Parris is serving a life sentence for killing Chandra Naraynsingh. After the lunch break, Ramadhar began his cross-examination of Parris. After several objections by prosecuting attorney Deputy DPP Roger Gaspard to Ramadhar’s questions to Parris, Ramadhar enquired from the magistrate if he should seek advice from Gaspard on how to ask the question. “You will have to go to law school,” Gaspard replied. Ramadhar retorted, “He can’t answer because he doesn’t know.” Wellington intervened, and advised the two attorneys to avoid becoming personal. However, the clashes continued as Ramadhar sought to ask questions of the witness which Gaspard, in his objections, described as “hypothetical.” Wellington agreed with the prosecution, but minutes later, Ramdahar persisted with his questions. As the magistrate kept advising Ramadhar to rephrase his questions, the defence attorney remarked: “Sometimes a sentence can save a case or destroy it.”

Again, with more questions by Ramadhar and objections by Gaspard, Wellington intervened: “Mr Ramadhar, you are getting very emotional. Let’s get on with the legal standpoint of the matter.” Ramadhar persisted with his line of questioning and at one point, Wellington told him, “Why are you doing this to me? You are taking it personal now.” But before proceedings closed yesterday, the defence attorney called on the State to make several original documents available. Hearing continues on Monday when Ramadhar will resume of Paris his cross-examination.