Rajesh Roopnarine called “Popo”, a logger of Timehri, East Bank Demerara, on Monday made his appearance at the Demerara High Court facing a murder charge. A 12-member jury was empanelled before Justice Navindra Singh, as Roopnarine’s fate will be determined at the end of the trial.
Roopnarine’s trial is set to commence on May 16, 2019, after his attorney requested an extended time to prepare for the trial. However, at Monday’s court session, the accused denied the indictment which detailed that on December 6, 2014, at 14 Miles Mabura, Upper Demerara River, he murdered David Campbell.
The accused is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes while the State is being represented by Teriq Mohammed, Abigail Gibbs and Tuanna Hardy.
According to reports, at about 17: 30h, Roopnarine set alight a mining camp with four occupants. While three persons managed to escape the blaze, Campbell was trapped in his hammock and sustained third-degree burns.
Campbell, who was a chainsaw operator, died at the Georgetown Public Hospital seven days after he was reportedly set alight in the mining camp.
