A legal issue has yet again interrupted the trial of a dozen men accused of murdering Xtra Foods chief executive Vindra Naipaul-Coolman.The issue was raised by lead prosecutor Israel Khan, SC, during a hearing of the case in the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court, Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain yesterday, while defence attorneys were completing their cross-examination of the State's 12th witness, videographer Cpl Nigel Stephens.
After hearing brief submissions on the issue–which cannot be reported on, as it was discussed in the absence of the jury–Holdip opted to adjourn the case to this morning."Your presence is no longer needed today, as we need to stop the receipt of evidence as we deal with some legal and administrative issues," Holdip told the 12-member jury and five alternates, before dismissing them for the day.
In his evidence, which began late last week, Stephens testified that on three occasions in 2007, he accompanied the team of police investigating Naipaul-Coolman's abduction when they went on three raids of houses and surrounding areas of La Puerta Avenue, Diego Martin. The first took place in January that year, weeks after Naipaul-Coolman was kidnapped from her home at Radix Road, Lange Park, Chaguanas, on December 19, 2006.
The two other raids took place four months later, shortly before the men were arrested and charged with the murder.During his testimony, Stephens showed the video clips he recorded during the raids, with special emphasis being placed on when investigators allegedly recovered evidence in the area which included several latex gloves, a roll of tape, a ski mask and a loaded gun.
In his cross-examination Stephens was quizzed on the type of tape which was found in an oven in an incomplete red brick house, where prosecutors allege that Naipaul-Coolman was held captive before she was eventually murdered.While Stephens said it was a roll of duct tape, defence attorneys contended it was in fact a tar-based adhesive used for repairing roofs (flashband).
A defence attorney also alleged that a four-foot-deep hole found overlooking the area, where the State says Naipaul-Coolman was buried before being exhumed, was actually an incomplete outhouse.Stephens' cross-examination is expected to continue tomorrow.