Vindra case back in court.
By Denyse Renne
Trinidad & Tobago Express | Saturday, November 7th 2009

Three high-profile cases – one in which a re-trial was ordered – came up for status hearing in the Port of Spain High Court on Thursday.

The accused men in the murder cases of businesswoman Vindra Naipaul Coolman, businessman Gerald Gopaul and Samdaye Rampersad will have to wait a bit longer for their trials to begin since some of the accused are yet to retain attorneys.

In the Second Criminal Court before Justice Malcolm Holdip, accused Shervon Peters, Keida Garcia, Marlon and Earl Trimmingham, Ronald Armstrong, Antonio Charles, Joel Ogiste, Lyndon James, Allan Martin, Devon Peters, Dwayne Gloster, Rafael Williams and Jamille Garcia are all charged with the December 2006 kidnapping and subsequent murder of Naipaul-Coolman. However, when the matter was called eight of the accused were unrepresented.

The matter was then adjourned to January 6, for further case management conference. Attorney Jeron Joseph appeared on behalf of the State.

Naipaul-Coolman, 52, was snatched from her Lange Park, Chaguanas home while pulling into her driveway on December 19, 2006. Part of the ransom $3 million demanded was paid, however, she was not freed and it was subsequently announced at a police press conference that she is dead.

Also before Holdip were Kendell Joseph alias ’Blackette’, Paul Boodoo, former soldier Ricardo Stevenson, Clifford Sorias, Kenneth Pierre and Martin Critchlow for the murder of real estate businessman Gerald Gopaul.

Wayne Pierre and former soldier Ricardo de Four, who were convicted in the United States this year for the kidnapping of Balram ’Balo’ Maharaj, are also charged alongside the men. The matter was adjourned to March 3, next year.

Gopaul, 52, of Papourie Road, Diamond Village, San Fernando, was abducted from the Diamond Recreation Bar near his home on July 8, 2005.

His body, wrapped in plastic, was found on Trantrill Road,Valsayn, on July 19, 2005.

And before Justice Mark Mohammed, the management case of Rampersad was adjourned to November 23, to decide on a new date to start the re-trial.

Phillip ’The Boss’ Boodram, Kervin ’Arch Eye’ Williams, Aaron ’Kenna’ Grappie, Ricky Singh and Roger Mootoo are charged with murdering Rampersad. The State was represented by attorney Renuka Rambhajan.

Rampersad’s decomposing body was dug out of a shallow grave in a cashew field in Claxton Bay on January 5, 2006. She was snatched from her Irving Street, Petit Bourg home on November 26, 2005.
Samdaye Rampersad