2 guilty of murder

TWO men who were on trial for the 2006 murder of Harry Chatoor, 65, whose family operates Chatoor’s Burger cart at Cross Crossing in San Fernando, were yesterday found guilty.

Chatoor was shot in a robbery at his home in St John’s Village, Ste Madeleine on the night of July 7. Nigel Charles, 59, of Embacadere and Marlon Hope, 46, of Cocoyea Village, San Fernando, were found guilty in the San Fernando High Court by a 12-member jury, but according to the murder felony rule.

Trial judge St Hayden Clair-Douglas will sentence them on June 6, after he receives a probation officer’s report and bio-data report from the prisons on both men.

Chatoor and his family were awakened by their front door being broken down.

They were then confronted by men who announced a hold-up. Family members were robbed of cash, electronics and jewellery. Chatoor died at hospital 19 days later from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

State Attorney Hema Soondarsingh and Candace Nanton prosecuted, during which the jury heard the evidence from 21 witnesses. Some of the witness’ testimonies were tendered. Chatoor’s son Rishi, 32, was listed as an eye-witness in the case but was killed on May 22, 2015, during a shooting incident at a bar in St John’s Village.

Two of Chatoor’s daughters testified in the trial. The prosecution led evidence from police officers about a search warrant at Hope’s home where jewelry and a cell phone were found and identified as some of the stolen items.

Attorneys Kevin Ratiram, instructed by Charlene Kalloo; Renuka Rambhajan, instructed by Jared Ali, represented Charles and Hope. Both accused gave evidence in their defence and said this was a case of mistaken identity.

St Clair-Douglas began summing up the case on Wednesday which ended yesterday morning.

The jury retired at 12.15 pm and after about an hour, sought further directions from the judge. They retired again and the foreman announced that both men were guilty. St Clair-Douglas then asked if their verdicts were in accordance with the murder-felony rule and he replied in the affirmative in the case of the latter, in respect of both accused.

It means that the judge can pass the death sentence, but can also impose a jail term.

The rule is based on a Privy Council decision that not every murder warrants the death sentence, for a person may not have intended to kill during the commission of a less serious offence.