Thursday July 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Body in Septic Tank at Campbellville ...
Defence submits final arguments as trial nears end Attorney-at-Law, Madan Kissoon, told the court, yesterday, that there is no evidence by the prosecution which established that his client, Ralph Tyndall had participated in the murder of 56-year-old Colleen Forrester. Forrester was allegedly strangled and beaten to death with a pestle (mortar stick) at her brother’s house at Lot 55 William Street, Campbellville, on December 26, 2007. The woman was last seen on the premises that evening by her granddaughter Nikita Semple, who was in her company. She was reported missing after neighbours noticed something was amiss and raised an alarm. On January 6, 2008, Forrester’s body was found by police ranks; her ankles were bound and her body wrapped in sheets before it was tossed into the septic tank. Her nephew, Anthony De Paul Hope and his friends, Ralph Tyndall and Kevin O’Neil were accused of the crime. O’Neil, of Seaforth Street, Campbellville, has since been acquitted but the other two persons were called upon to lead their defence. Yesterday, Tyndall’s Attorney summarized the prosecution’s case against his client. The lawyer noted that there were a number of inconsistencies in the evidence provided by the Prosecution’s main witness, Nikita Semple. Kissoon noted that although Semple had a clearly vivid recollection of what transpired the night her grandmother disappeared, her statement was vague and didn’t add up at certain points.
Murder accused Antony De Paul Hope
Murder accused: Ralph Tyndall
The Lawyer also argued that after eight years his client, had stuck to his story, in which he recounted that he saw Hope standing over his injured aunt with a piece of wood in his hand, the night she allegedly disappeared. However Hope‘s Attorney, Melvin Duke, strongly argued that his client had nothing to do with the death of his 56-year-old aunt. Duke in his final statements asked the Jury to consider what his client had told them about the night his aunt disappeared, that she left the house with elder Smith. The Lawyer also pointed out that it was after seven years that the same Elder Smith came to court, in an attempt to rebut evidence. Smith, in his testimony, rebutted information provided by Hope, that he was the last person to be seen with Forrester, the night she disappeared. He further told the court that his relationship with Colleen Forrester was in effect, platonic—the
relationship never exceeded that. Smith maintained that his only involvement with Colleen Forrester and the immediate members of her family was through her attendance of the spiritual church in East La Penitence, for which he is an elder. However yesterday, Duke asked the panel to consider the kind of man Smith is, “No ordinary man,” and very authoritative individual who had control over a church and congregation. The Attorney also shared the view that the police failed to do a proper investigation. He claimed that this same elder Smith had paid the police and had been “controlling everything.” The prosecution, Duke told jurors, has no case.” There was no eyewitness, no fingerprints, no blood samples…” Added to that, Duke said that the two accused had no motive or reason to murder Forrester. He reminded the panel that his client had professed love for his aunt. He would never stand there and watch someone murder his auntie. The trial will continue today. State’s Counsel Stacy Gooding and Diana Kaulesar are expected to submit the closing arguments before Justice Roxanne GeorgeWiltshire.
Trust, care for human life integral to GPF ... From page 13 about the transformation that is necessary, some tough decisions must be made…I hope you don't have in the force men and women who have been around for a long time but they still have the things that were given to them at the beginning yet they are clamouring for increase and they are clamouring for promotions,” Massiah said. “You have to find a way on how you will treat with people like that because it's not good for the development of any institution…people must know that you mean business now.” Massiah also had some
words of advice for Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud. He advised the Commissioner to display sagacity by stealthily investigating matters instead of simply receiving the reports from other ranks. “Even after you would receive the word from the different heads who report to you, you must go out there and check it out for yourself…so you will not only get the official report. Go by stealth and do your own work. We're talking about efficiency and productivity. We want to be able to deliver the best we can deliver to this nation,” Massiah said.
Sentencing deferred for killer of Festival City beautician The sentencing of Charles Antony Woolford has been once again postponed to a later date. Woolford was charged with the murder of his wife, Latoya Conway Woolford, a beautician from Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Woolford had faced his second retrial for murder after he allegedly stabbed his wife on February 8, 2009 at their Lot 2041, Hummingbird Street, Festival City, North Ruimveldt home, during a heated argument. At his last appearance, the accused was found guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter by a mixed twelve member jury before Justice Brassington Reynolds at the High Court in Georgetown. There was some amount of confusion with the Jurors before they finally came to a decision on the outcome of the case. The Jury Foreman had initially announced that they had found Charles Anthony
Woolford not guilty of murder and also not guilty on the lesser count of manslaughter, but murmurs which emanated from other members on the panel, caused the Foreman to change his statement. The Foreman then stated that he did not understand the question put to him by the Court Registrar. In light of the circumstances, the Judge briefed the panel a third time before allowing them to retire to make a decision. The panel subsequently emerged with a verdict of not guilty for the offence of murder, but guilty (11 -1), in regard to the lesser offence of manslaughter. The panel had asked for clarification on the evidence, and was given further direction by the Judge. They ultimately took in excess of four hours to return a verdict in relation to Woolford. Woolford was scheduled to appear before the Judge last Tuesday for sentencing and probation report. But Justice Reynolds
Charles Anthony Woolford explained that he would not be proceeding with the sentence at this point, owing to a legal issue, which has surfaced, in relation to the case. The Judge did not specify what the issue was but deferred the matter to another date. The case has been put down until, 9:30 am, July 13.
Linden Technical Institute gets $8M from local mining company
Principal of LTI, Dennis Jaikarran flanked by AGM Senior Vice President, Violet Smith (left) and CUSO Caribbean Representative, Tara Persaud (right), at handing over ceremony Over $8M were donated to the Linden Technical Institute (LTI) on Tuesday, in an effort to further the development of a safety training programme for the institution.
Education Minister ... From page 19 said that, “education is not about quantity; it is first and foremost about quality.” Over the upcoming vacation period the Ministry of Education will be hosting two special workshops for teachers: the first will focus on the reintroduction of music into schools across the country and another will address sports. Dr. Roopnaraine is con-
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vinced that “reading, literacy and numeracy are better imparted, better implanted, and better digested if parents and educators can make a connection between what they are attempting to teach the child and what the child is interested in.” He therefore stressed the need for a system where children will want to be in school and where teachers will want to be in the classroom.
The donation was made by the Guyana Goldfields/ Aurora Gold Mining (GG/ AGM) Inc. and CUSO International at the AGM headquarters, on Thomas Street. The three institutions signed agreements which would have the occupational safety programme in effect for two years. Present at the ceremony were AGM Senior Vice President, Violet Smith, CUSO Caribbean Representative, Tara Persaud and Principal of LTI, Dennis Jaikarran. The collaborative programme was dubbed Reinvigorating Training Opportunities and Occupational Learning (ReTOOL). Yesterday’s
agreement made it possible for CUSO International to provide a “ground breaking” safety training programme for the Institute. This is the first programme of its kind in Guyana, according to Principal Jaikarran. The most recent donation will be the first instalment in a two year programme and was designed to develop and engage professionals in the technical field in an effort to prepare them for the competitive work environment. In her remarks, Smith said that the programme will equip students with the capabilities needed for the global market. By implementing this (continued on page 23)