Cashew field murder trial: State closes.
By Jensen LaVende
Trinidad & Tobago Express | Thursday, July 9th 2009

AFTER two months of testimony against nine men all charged with the country’s second highest offence, murder, the State closed its case in the Samdaye Rampersad murder trial yesterday.

The trial which began on May 6, was officially closed yesterday after the State re-called the arresting officer, Insp Ancil Corbette, to be further questioned.

The police interview notes of Roger Mootoo and Steve “Boops” McGilvery were also read into evidence.

Mootoo, 30, a fork-lift operator of Spring Village, Claxton Bay reportedly told police January 6, 2006 that on the night of the killing he was at home with his girlfriend and daughter.

McGilvery, 27, a labourer of Pioneer Drive, Sea Lots reportedly told police on January 8, 2006, that he was in one of two cars used during the kidnapping of Rampersad. He added that he was asked to take part in the kidnapping but refused, he, however, was in a car that was used as a look out to give the kidnappers the okay to snatch Rampersad. He reportedly told police that Rampersad was supposed to have been taken to someone identified as “Cat” later identified in court as the State’s star witness Ryan Nigel “Super Cat” Roderique.

After the reading of the statement, Corbette was recalled and cross-examined by defence attorney Pamela Elder SC, who is representing, 43-year-old Phillip “The Boss” Boodram, a fisherman of Fifth Street, New Settlement Dow Village, California. She was followed by Wayne Sturge, who is representing both Mootoo and Ricky Singh, a 39-year-old taxi driver of Cedar Hill Road, Claxton Bay.

The State then closed its case, clearing the way for the defence to make their stand against the allegations.

Phillip “The Boss” Boodram, Kervin “Arc Eye” Williams, 28, of Sum Sum Hill, Cedar Hill, Claxton Bay, Vivian “Clarkie” Clarke, 37, of Production Avenue, Sea Lots, Aaron “Kenna” Grappie, 29, of Pranz Gardens, Claxton Bay, McGilvery, Pernell Martin, 29, of Gobinson Trace, Tunapuna Road, Tunapuna, Singh, Roger Mootoo and Bobby Sankar, 38, of 15 Bacchus Street, Claxton Bay, are on trial for the murder of Rampersad.

Rampersad, 45, was snatched outside of her Irving Street, Petit Bourg, home on November 26, 2005 and was exhumed from a shallow grave at a cashew field in Claxton Bay on January 5, 2006. The matter continues today.