Travis McDougal, who was accused of killing 43-year-old Dredge owner, Ashok Raghu, outside of the Botanical Gardens on Vlissingen Road, Georgetown in August 2014, is standing trial at the High Court in Georgetown. In July 2015, McDougal was committed to stand trial for murder along with pork knocker Jermaine Otto who was one of the prisoners that perished in the deadly Camp Street prison fire, following riots in March last year.
McDougal of East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, and his accomplice, Otto, were both accused of killing the 43-year-old man on August 18, 2014, during the furtherance of a robbery of $4M, committed on the now deceased man and his wife Shyrazadi Raghu. On Monday, a 12-member jury was empaneled to hear the case for which 17 witnesses are expected to testify. McDougal who has pleaded not guilty to the allegation is being represented by Defence Counsel, Nigel Hughes.
It was contended that on the day in question, the couple was in their car – PGG 8291 – when they stopped at the traffic light on Vlissingen Road and Regent Street junction. Otto and an accomplice allegedly rode up on a CG motorcycle at the driver’s side of the vehicle and shot Raghu to his chest.
It had been further alleged that one of the men grabbed a haversack containing Gy$4 million, but Shyrazadi held on to the haversack when she was shot in the thigh. Raghu was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
The State’s case is being led by Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy. The trial begins before Justice Navindra Singh on Tuesday morning.
