Photographs of the skeletal remains of schoolgirl Radha Pixie Lakhan and the decomposing body of Taramatee Toolsie were shown to the jury on Tuesday, as the trial against double murder accused Paul Vincent continued. Beverly Rodriguez, the police photographer who took the photos in 2005, gave evidence in the San Fernando First Assizes, where Paul is on trial before Justice Mark Mohammed for the murders of Lakhan, 16, and Toolsie, 40.
The women lived not far from each other and were killed weeks apart near their homes in 2005. The State, led by attorney Tricia Hudlin-Cooper, is trying to prove that Vincent stalked, raped and strangled them. He allegedly gave police statements confessing to the murders. Toolsie’s decomposing body was found in bushes at La Brea Trace on April 18, three days after she went missing, while Lakhan’s remains were found off Spring Trace on April 22, a month after she went missing.
During Rodriguez’s evidence, copies of her photographs were given to the 12-member jury and four alternates. Rodriguez, now retired, recalled that in 2005 she was assigned to the Siparia CID. She said on April 18 she went with Cpl Minors to a bushy area at La Brea Trace where she saw the body of an East Indian female. She said the body, clad in a in red top, was in a decomposed state and covered with five tyres.
She also testified that on April 22, acting Insp Wells, other officers, Vincent and his brother, Carlton Seerattan, went to Spring Trace. She said she took photos of the road, a grey school shirt, school bag, a human skull, spinal bone and a pair of black sneakers and socks. She said she also took photos of a school belt and three bones on something like a fig leaf.
Rodriguez said on April 20, Vincent also directed her and other officers to La Brea Trace extension where he pointed out areas and she took photos. She said Vincent’s mother Gene Campbell was also with them. Karen Soogrimsingh, who lives at Erin Road, Quarry Village, Siparia, recalled that around 1.45 pm on March 22, Lakhan got out of a purple taxi opposite her house. She said Lakhan, who was dressed in school uniform, went into Spring Trace, where she lived.
Soogrimsingh said she saw no one else on the road.