| Civilian witnesses testifying in the matter for which Jarvis Barry Small and Bibi Shareema Gopaul are on trialMurdered: Neesa Gopaulfor the murder of 16 year-old Queen’s College student, Neesa Gopaul, have noted that they are familiar with the dumbbells which were allegedly found at the scene of the crime.The dumbbells, which were presented as part of the evidence in the trial, the witnesses pointed out, were also marked with their initials.Small and Gopaul are on trial before Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed twelve -member jury for the murder which allegedly took place sometime between September 24 and October 2, 2010.Small is being represented by a team of lawyers including Glenn Hanoman, Bernard De Santos SC, Lyndon Amsterdam and Zanna Frank, while Gopaul is being represented by Attorney-at-Law,Cheap Jerseys Online, George Thomas.State Prosecutors, Diana Kaulesar and Stacy Gooding are presenting the case.According to reports, the teen’s body was found at a location along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway tucked inside a suitcase that was partially submerged in a creek. A rope was wrapped around the suitcase and dumbbells were attached at one end, apparently in an effort to keep the body under water.In his evidence- in -chief yesterday, Nazar Mohamed Okeeland recalled that he had sold the dumbbellsMurder Accused: Bibi Shareema Gopaulto the accused on August 1, 2006. After pointing out Small in the courtroom, Okeeland explained that the exercise equipment was a gift from his nephew but he had no use for it. As such, the man explained that he sold the dumbbells to the defendant who operated a gym a village away from where he lived.He explained that when he sold the pieces of equipment it was in a container and comprised 27 pieces of round metals (weights) and three solid shafts. Okeeland told the court that he offered the accused the dumbbells at the price of $4000 GYD but Small only give him $1500. Okeeland said that he was supposed to return for the remaining cash but he never went back to the premises.The witness further disclosed that on October 6, 2010, he was summoned to the Leonora Police Station by Assistant Superintendant of Police, (ASP) Terrace Paul who inquired from him whether he had sold Barry Small “some weights.”Okeeland said that he was shown a dumbbell which he identified to be one of which he had sold to the accused some four years prior to the incident. The man said he subsequently went to Ruimveldt Police Station, where he was shown a pair of dumbbells with a red rope attached to it. He recalled that he also identified the components to be those he sold to Small. The witness noted however, that the accused denied having any knowledge of the exercise equipment at a confrontation involving him and police ranks, later that day.The witness noted that the dumbbells were marked with his initials “NMO” which made it easy to identifyMurder Accused:Jarvis Barry Smallthem. The witness went on to point out the markings on the weights which were also present in the courtroom yesterday.Under Cross examination by Defence Counsel, Glenn Hanoman, Okeeland told the court that he had given the police a statement as it relates to the dumbbells which he had identified.The witness however, noted that the dumbbells were shown to him before he submitted the statement to the police. As such, the witness accepted that he described the dumbbells the way he had seen it at the station. In response to questions posited by the Attorney, the witness noted that the dumbbells had two colours; black with red spots. He also noted that the apparatus could have been identified by the rough edges, which are common with locally made weights.Okeeland told the court that at the Ruimveldt Police Station he had assisted officers by carrying the weights from a storeroom to the upper part of the building.Hanoman then suggested to Okeeland that he has a good relationship with Officer Paul; that he would give the officer information in exchange for money. “No sir,” the witness quickly responded.Welder/fabricator, Bharrat Narine Samaroo was next to take the stand. He told the court that he had done some work on the dumbbells after Small purchased them from Okeeland. He explained that he had painted the weights and welded them for the accused whom he became familiar with while attending his gym.The witness said that in October, 2010 he was summoned to the Leonora and Ruimveldt Police stations where he saw the said dumbbells. The man noted that he could identify the equipment by his initials B.S. He went on to identify the equipment in the presence of the Judge and Jury yesterday.Ravindra Naikram also testified yesterday. Naikram said that he is a resident of Leonora, West Coast Demerara for more than 13 years. The man said that he operates a shop and canter in the area. Naikram said that prior to the murder he had assisted Small by moving some of his exercise equipment from his home to “another woman’s” house which is located on the Public Road.The witness indentified Bibi Shareema Gopaul, who was seated in the dock as that woman. He further said that in October 2010 he was arrested and subjected to questioning from the police.The man said that he was interrogated about the items that Small had instructed him to move from Gopaul’s premises. Naikram noted that he only moved a motorcycle from the residence but he was kept in police custody for 72 hours undergoing questioning. The man said that he submitted statements in this regard.The witness was thereafter shown the dumbbells but said that he did not recognize them.Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP) Mitchell Caesar concluded his portion of evidence in the trial. Yesterday, the policeman was subject to cross examination by Attorney-at-Law, George Thomas. The Officer revealed that he questioned Gopaul about her relationship with her daughter and Small. Caesar said that Gopaul had uttered words which led him to believe that she had harboured malice against her daughter. At this point of the proceeding, Gopaul began to weep silently. The witness afterward clarified that the woman said that whenever her daughter was not around Small would treat her well, but whenever the teenager was present he treated her like she was not wanted. The trial continues today. |
