…..stays in custody over KN pressmen killingsDwight Da Silva, who was accused of the August 2006 murder of 54-year-old Kaneville businessman, Barbot Paul, was yesterday found not guilty of the capital offence. Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire upheld a no-case submission made by Attorney-at-law George Thomas on behalf of Da Silva.Dwight Da SilvaJustice George-Wiltshire told Da Silva that he was very lucky since a significant gap existed in the police’s investigations. She stressed that the prosecution was not at fault for the poor work of investigators.Konyo Sandiford and Renita Singh prosecuted the matter.On Wednesday, last, Nazeema Persaud, the granddaughter of the deceased,Cheap Stitched MLB Jerseys, had taken to the witness stand to give her evidence in the matter. She was said to have been the main witness.On Monday, last, the court had visited the crime scene.Barbot Paul was a shop owner residing at 312 Second Field, Kaneville, East Bank Demerara. On August 6, 2006, Paul was gunned down by bandits, who after taking the man’s life and robbing his establishment, made good their escape with his licenced .32 Taurus pistol. The man was also stripped of the gold jewellery he was wearing.It was reported that that on the night of the incident around 21:10 hours, Paul and his wife’s attention were drawn to shouts of “Thief, thief” coming from the streets.The police’s information had related that as Paul attempted to close the gate to his property, he was shot in the back during a confrontation with one of the bandits. His pistol was taken away. Paul’s wife had also said that her husband told her to close the shop and was about to do so when she saw a gunman standing on the step leading into the yard. She said before she could react, the gunman opened fire in her husband’s direction, and her husband, reacted in the same before telling her to hide.Da Silva, despite the verdict will not be singing sweet songs of freedom as he will be kept in state custody until the hearing of another capital offence matter.The man is one of the individuals accused of killing five Kaieteur News pressmen. Da Silva, Quincy Evans also known as “Nasty-man”, a juvenile, and Jermaine “Skinny” Charles, now deceased, were all charged with the murders of the pressmen.Charles was killed at Kuru Kururu during a confrontation with police.Richard Stewart, Shazim Mohamed, Chetram Persaud, Eion Wegman and Mark Maikoo were all shot execution-style at the Kaieteur News’ Eccles facility. |