Paul Vincent, the man accused of murdering two women–a schoolgirl and a janitor–is expected to know his fate next week Friday.Justice Mark Mohammed is expected to take five days, from Monday, to sum up the lengthy trial.State attorney Renuka Rambhajan completed her closing arguments to the jury yesterday.Defence attorney Rekha Ramjit completed hers on Monday.In May, the jury began hearing evidence against Vincent, 33, in the San Fernando First Assizes Court.
The State is saying that Vincent confessed and voluntarily gave statements detailing how he stalked, raped and strangled Radha Pixie Lakhan, 16, and Taramatee Toolsie, 40.Both women lived near each other in 2005.The defence, however, is saying that the police fabricated and concocted the statements which they made the accused sign.
Lakhan, 16, a student of Palo Seco Secondary School never returned to her Spring Trace, Siparia, home after leaving school on March 22. Toolsie, 40, a janitor, left her La Brea Trace, Siparia, home on April 15 to go to work but never got there.The State is saying that she was dragged down a drain and into some bushes along her street by Vincent who also lived on that street with his common-law wife.The State is alleging that Vincent raped and strangled Toolsie with her handbag strap. Her body was found three days later.
After confessing to Toolsie's murder, the police claim Vincent not only confessed to murdering Lakhan but also took them to where he allegedly raped and killed her.The police found her skeletal remains in a bamboo patch along the street she lived.Police said Vincent claimed he raped the schoolgirl six times and then used her school belt to strangle her.In her closing arguments yesterday, Rambhajan told the jury Vincent was treated properly while in police custody.
She said he was given meals, allowed to bathe, use the washroom and receive visits from his relatives."It is not a vacation for Paul Vincent in the people and them police station. It is a station and he is detained."She said it is clear from the confession statements and strong circumstantial evidence that Vincent is guilty.The defence is claiming that Vincent was not given proper treatment by the police.The matter was adjourned to Monday for the judge to begin summing up.