A jury took just over three hours yesterday to convict a man accused of murdering his friend during a Boxing Day lime 11 years ago.
Anand Boodram was sentenced to hang by Justice Malcolm Holdip, in the San Fernando High Court for the murder of Brian "Fatman" Maharaj.
Maharaj, 26, died after 50 bullets from a shotgun pierced his upper body on December 26, 2006.
The trial against Boodram, 37, also known as Kundan, began before Justice Holdip in the First Criminal Court a month ago.
Evidence led by State attorneys Stacy Laloo-Chong and Shabaana Shah was that Maharaj went to Boodram's home, not far away from where he lived.
Boodram was not home but his relatives called him. When he arrived shortly after, he and Maharaj had an argument in the presence of his (Boodram) uncle. Boodram then left in his car while Maharaj remained at his home liming with Boodram's uncle and the uncle's friend.
About an hour later, the uncle's friend was in the hammock under the house when he heard a loud explosion.
He then saw Maharaj staggering as he held his chest. The friend also saw Boodram holding a shotgun.
The following day Boodram surrendered to the St Mary's police and subsequently took the police to where he hid the gun.
He gave the police a statement in which he claimed he was taking care of his animals when Maharaj approached him with a gun.
Boodram claimed Maharaj was very aggressive and hit him behind the neck and during a struggle he held on to the gun and it went off.
He claimed he hid the gun because he was afraid.
However, forensic pathologist Dr Hughvon des Vignes testified that there was no evidence to corroborate Boodram's claim that there was a struggle. He said Maharaj's injuries and the lack of gunshot residue on his body suggests that Maharaj was shot from a distance and not at close range.
Boodram, who was defended by attorney El Farouk Hosein, opted not to give evidence or call any witnesses.