Judge begins murder trial summation today

JUSTICE Hayden St Clair-Douglas will today (Wednesday) begin summing up the trial of two men for the 2006 murder of burger proprietor Harry Chatoor.

The accused are Nigel Charles and Marlon Hope, who are before the judge and a jury in the San Fernando High Court for shooting dead Chatoor, 65, on the night of July 7, during a robbery at his home.

Chatoor died about three weeks later at San Fernando General Hospital.

The State is contending that Chatoor and his family were asleep that fateful night at their Jordon Hill Village, Princes Town home, when men broke down the front door.

State attorney Candace Nanton, who is prosecuting with state attorney Hema Soondarsingh, called 21 witnesses. She told the judge and jury that before Chatoor was shot, family members were robbed of electronics, jewelry and cash.

Charles, 59, from Embacadere, San Fernando, and Hope, 41, of Cocoyea Village, San Fernando, both testified in their defence and each called one witness.

Attorney Kevin Ratiram, instructed by Charlene Kalloo, is representing Hope and attorney Renuka Rambhajan, instructed by Jared Ali, is representing Charles.

St Clair-Douglas will conclude his summation tomorrow (Thursday), after which the jury will consider a verdict.