By Malisa Playter Harry
A West Berbice Cane harvester was on the 4th August 2016 found guilty of killing his 19-year-old ex-lover Shazina Mohamed of Edinburgh Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice (EBB).
23-year-old Shazam Khalil of 53 Shields town, West Bank Berbice (WBB) appeared before Justice Joann Barlow and a mixed jury at the New Amsterdam High Court.
Led by state council Ms. Stacy Goodings, the proceedings saw seven witnesses testifying on behalf of the state. Goodings had told the court that the day in question Mohamed was ambushed and stabbed by Khalil, who later fled the scene.
Mohamed was brutally stabbed about her body around 19:00 hours on January 17, last year, in front of the Yang Yi Chinese Restaurant, at Rosignol, West Bank Berbice.
Goodings had explained that the teen was picked up and rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital, but was later transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
The state’s first witness testifying was Police Constable, Orwin Barton, who stated that on the day in question, he was stationed at the Blairmont Police Station attached to the anti-crime patrol. He noted that when he received information, himself accompanied by other ranks went to the home of the accused where he was arrested.
According to Barton, Khalil had shown the officers an injury to his eye, which he claimed to have sustained during the altercation between himself and the deceased.
Khalil’s lawyer Tajenarine Ramroop claimed his client did not commit the act willfully but rather in self-defence after being attacked by the deceased.
Also during the trial, an application was made for evidence to be entered from the Magistrate’s Court since the victim’s father who was listed as a witness is currently overseas.
The jury having deliberated for less than two hours returned with a unanimous decision that the accused was guilty of murder.
In response, Khalil’s attorney implored the judge to seek probation report which was agreed upon hence Justice Joann Barlow ordered the report to be done and delayed her ruling for two weeks when the accused would know his faith.
Shazam Khalil is to return on the 19 August for sentencing.
