| …admits to stabbing victim in self defenseThe fisherman accused of stabbing his fellow fisherman to death in the Atlantic Ocean has been committed to stand trial in the High Court.Gregory Nahar, called “Biggs” and” Rufus”, 39, of Paradise Village, Essequibo, is charged with the murder of fisherman Ronald Emanuel Reid, called “Mani, 27, of Lot 25 Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown. The killing occurred on October 6, last off the Litchfield foreshore in the Atlantic Ocean.He appeared before Magistrate Rhondell Weaver and was committed on Friday when the Preliminary Inquiry ended in the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court.The case was prosecuted at different stages by Inspector Grace Bristol, Sergeant Althea Solomon and Corporal Racquet Mars.According to the prosecution, the incident occured around 14:30hrs while the fishing boat, the Vidya K 1, was off the Lichfield Foreshore, West Coast Berbice.Reports are that the vessel had been at sea for 14 days prior to the incident. Reid was one of the six-man crew aboard the vessel which was captained by Ram Kumar.Initially two brothers, Gregory and his elder brother, Ray Nahar, 41, of Bounty Hall Essequibo Coast, were initially arrested and placed in custody. However upon the advice of the DPP Gregory alone was charged. Gregory Nahar had admitted, “I juck he,”Investigations revealed that Reid was involved in an argument with the two brothers during which he was fatally stabbed to his back. Boat captain, Kumar, had stated that it was his first trip with Emanuel. “The guy is a pleasant chap but somehow he and them fellas didn’t agreeing at all.” He told the court that he threw away the black handle knife.Another crew member who witnessed the incident had stated that “for the entire trip, the two brothers and Emanuel were picking at each other.” He noted that “Emanuel asked them to let the story end but dem didn’t stopping.” Both the captain and other crew members related seeing Gregory Nahar run after Reid with a knife.During the preliminary inquiry the prosecution called 11 witnesses.Called to the witness stand was GDF Lieutenant John Flores who assisted in identifying the location where the incident occurred in the Atlantic. Reid’s father, Brian Reid, also a fisherman, testified to identifying his son’s body.A post mortem examination conducted on the body of Reid at the Georgetown Hospital by Dr. Nehaul Singh revealed that he died from a stab wound.In a sworn statement the accused admitted to stabbing Reid once. Nahar will have to now face a Judge and Jury in the next sitting of the Berbice High Court. |
