| Neesa Gopaul murder PI…The late arrival of prosecution witnesses yesterday caused a delay in the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the murder of 16 year-old Queen’s College student, Neesa Gopaul.The PI is currently being heard before Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.Jarvis Small and Bibi Gopaul are accused of killing the latter’s teenage daughter between September 24 and October 2, at Madewini on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway.The magistrate yesterday lashed out at Police Prosecutor Robert Tyndall for the tardiness of his witnesses, all police ranks.After questioning the prosecutor, Magistrate Beharry ordered him to have his witnesses present in one hour, prior to her adjourning proceedings.Defence Counsel Vic Puran opined that the court was favouring the prosecution since on the last occasion he was late and the court went ahead and granted an adjournment in his absence.He said that he did not see the need for an adjournment since the officer who was scheduled to give evidence is stationed at the Brickdam Police Station.The lawyer further told the court that the police station was less than 10 minutes away, more so, just a phone call away.Puran further stated that the matter against his client, Bibi Gopaul, “should not be adjourned…but discharged”.The court was adjourned and upon the magistrate’s return, Inspector of Police Joel David was present and ready to give his evidence. He was cross examined by attorney at law Puran. Following this, the matter was scheduled for continuation on January 18.David is one of the 27 witnesses who are expected to be called to give evidence.On the last occasion, Detective Assistant Superintendant Terrance Paul testified.He related to the court certain events leading up to the arrest of the two defendants.After testifying he was cross examined by Senior Counsel Bernard Dos Santos who is representing Jarvis Small.Several questions were asked by counsel to which prosecutor Tyndall objected.Those who have already testified in the matter are Lance Corporal Anoudh Bissoon, Jennifer Sumrah and Keisha Douglas. Bissoon gave evidence about a medical examination form.Mishka Puran, who appeared in association with her father, Vic Puran, for Gopaul, objected to the tendering of the medical form.Magistrate Beharry after listening to the arguments allowed the medical to be tendered into evidence.Neesa Gopaul, prior to her passing, went missing on September 23, last, with a report being made at the Leonora Police Station by her mother two days later.The teen’s body was found at the abandoned Emerald Towers Resort, on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway on October 2. The disfigured corpse was found stuffed in a large suitcase that was dumped into the Madewini Creek. Certain articles found in the suitcase,Cheap Jerseys 2018, led to the two defendants being arrested and charged with murder.A length of rope was wrapped around the body and the killer(s) had attached two dumb-bells, weighing more than 80 pounds, to the other end of the rope, apparently in an effort to weigh the body down.The body of Neesa Gopaul was discovered clad in a black shorts and a multi-coloured top.The horrific find was made by persons who had gone to the abandoned resort to swim. |
