NORWICH – Tensions ran high in Chenango County Court Monday on the final day of testimony in the murder trial of Ganesh R. Ramsaran.
Chenango County Court Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr., District Attorney Joseph McBride and the defendant on the stand, Ramsaran, all used tones not present in the proceedings thus far.
Defense counsel Gilberto Garcia remained calm in his chair amidst the bickering.
Monday morning, Garcia completed the direct examination of his client, who the government alleges killed his wife the morning of Dec. 11, 2012.
Garcia asked Ramsaran to describe significant happenings on certain dates.
Ramsaran said that on Dec. 14, 2012, he called Detective Kevin Powell and Detective John Fern of the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, and asked the two to pick up some hairs Ramsaran had located in the bathroom garbage. The defendant said the detectives arrived at approximately 11 a.m. or noon and Ramsaran said he additionally provided information regarding the family insurance policy and passports.
Ramsaran said on Dec. 15, 2012, a birthday sleepover was held for his eldest daughter. The defendant said he asked his daughter if she still wanted to have the sleepover — even though her mother was missing — and she said she still wanted friends over.
That same day, Ramsaran said he went to the home of Rick Caputo — who previously testified for the government — and asked them to watch over Eileen Sayles, the woman with whom Ramsaran had a love affair and whom was the victim’s best friend. Ramsaran said he told the Caputos that Sayles was his soulmate, and he planned to divorce from Jennifer Ramsaran after the holidays.
As Ramsaran had a tendency to “ramble” throughout his testimony, Garcia reminded his client, “don’t volunteer anything.”
Ramsaran said on Dec. 16, 2012, he told his father-in-law, Thomas Renz, that he needed to get away, and the defendant asked Renz if he wanted to take him for a drive.
The defendant said he had no specific plans to go anywhere.
The two traveled on Route 23 and drove past where the phone was eventually found. When Renz and Ramsaran almost arrived in Plymouth, Ramsaran received a text message, resulting in the pair to turn around and head back to the Ramsaran home.
Ramsaran recalled that he learned later that his father-in-law had found Jennifer’s van. The defendant said he asked Renz where the van was located, but the call disconnected, so he called 911.
“I never saw it,” said Ramsaran regarding the van as the two had driven past Plank Road Manor. “Never.”
Between Dec. 16 and Dec. 24, 2012, Ramsaran said he called 911 on multiple occasions to see if there was any new information concerning Jennifer’s status.
Ramsaran said he spoke with Powell on Dec. 16, and as a result of that conversation, he waited at his home, and his father-in-law came over.
After an objection from McBride, Ramsaran said, “That’s all I’m allowed to say, I guess.”
With regard to Ramsaran’s children, he said, “It was rough. Had to take it minute by minute. I don’t think I told them about the van or anything.”
Garcia asked his client if he withheld anything from the police. “None whatsoever,” said Ramsaran. “Whatever was requested was provided.” He said he did not contact an attorney at that time, and never told police he would not cooperate with them.
Ramsaran said he spoke with Lieutenant Richard Cobb the most throughout the investigation. He said he spoke with Cobb more than 100 times. Other authorities he spoke to included former Chenango County Undersheriff James Lloyd, Detective Powell, Detective Fern, and Detective Miller. But he said he contacted Cobb on a daily basis.
Ramsaran said he called Cobb about status updates, leads, forensics from the van, and after Jennifer’s body was located, he called for updates on the cause of death. “We talked every day, except for weekends,” said Ramsaran.
To Cobb, Ramsaran said he provided user IDs and password for his work computers along with various pills that were recovered but left at the house following the search warrant. He also gave a hair rinse Jennifer used, a prepaid credit card, the clothing he was wearing the day Jennifer disappeared (minus the hat; and he could not recall if the shoes were asked for or provided), a GPS, and an international package receipt from Rob Houston in London.
Prior testimony revealed that Jennifer had sent panties to Houston, and would chat with him for up to six hours per day.
The defendant said he did not provide detectives with the sheet, rugs, or computers, as they were seized as a result of the search warrant.
“I gave anything and everything that was asked,” said Ramsaran.
Garcia asked if his client was ever told the case changed from a missing persons case to a homicide investigation. Ramsaran answered in the affirmative, saying he was told of the change “shortly after the van was found.”
“Did you ever learn you were a suspect?” asked Garcia.
“Yes, that same day,” said Ramsaran.
Garcia asked why his client continued to talk to the police.
“I had nothing to hide,” Ramsaran said.
Ramsaran said he was not aware he was being recorded by authorities except for the interview on March 22, 2012. He said he especially did not know the daily phone calls to Cobb were recorded.
Ramsaran was asked if he knew about police searches for Jennifer. “I know searches were done,” said Ramsaran. “I don’t know when, where, or how. I was asked not to participate. I intended to get involved in searches, but was not able to.”
Asked Garcia, “Did you ever go out looking for your wife?”
“Not for her body, no.”
Ramsaran confirmed that he did ask Sayles to move into the Ramsaran house near the end of March or beginning of April of 2013. The defendant said Sayles and her children were originally going to move in October, 2012, but she instead moved in with her parents.
Ramsaran said he and Jennifer consulted about Sayles moving in, and she was invited because their home had plenty of room and an extra apartment downstairs. He confirmed that he, Jennifer, Sayles and the children were all very close.
Ramsaran said he did love Sayles — and Jennifer — and while he never formally proposed to Sayles, he did want to marry her.
Once Jennifer’s body was located by the father of Deputy Kelly Hayner —the deputy who also responded when Jennifer’s phone was found by Ramsaran — Ramsaran was notified. According to Ramsaran’s testimony, he first learned through media that a naked female body was found.
McBride said when police knocked, there was no answer, so they called the defendant’s cell and home phone. Ramsaran said he had fallen asleep on the couch, then he was told by authorities.
He said funeral arrangements were made with his in-laws and recalled that his parents drove up from their location.
Ramsaran said he has only been to the location of where Jennifer’s body was found once on the day funeral arrangements were made, after leaving the funeral home.
Garcia asked his client if there was any time he stopped talking to law enforcement. Ramsaran said communications slowed around April 16, 2013. “Every time I called, I got the same exact statement,” said Ramsaran. “I stopped calling Cobb.”
On May 17, 2013, when Ramsaran was charged with second degree murder, Ramsaran said Cobb’s testimony as to his reaction to the allegations were fairly accurate.
“For the first time in my life, I think I am going to see reports, and I find I am being arrested for murder,” said Ramsaran. “I’m beside myself.”
Ramsaran recalled being “thrown” in a holding cell and served papers ordering him to stay away from his children.
“I was asked several questions after asking for an attorney,” Ramsaran said.
“Did you ever hit Jennifer?” asked Garcia. Ramsaran said no. He said he had yelled and the two had arguments, but, “Who doesn’t?” Ramsaran said. The defendant said he has never been involved in a domestic violence incident, charged with assault, or accused of physically hurting anyone.
“What about when you obtained the nickname ‘Psycho’?” asked Garcia.
Said Ramsaran, “I didn’t fight on the field. No, sir.”
Emails were brought up that suggest Jennifer was involved in an affair.
“Yes, I saw the emails (on April 3, 2013), and it’s exactly what I believe occurred,” said Ramsaran. “In retrospect, I even more-so believe it.”
The defendant recalled making the allegations of Jennifer’s affair to Cobb and his in-laws. He additionally said he mentioned the drugs — prescription and over-the-counter — to the three individuals as he was concerned with the changes to his wife’s personality before she disappeared.
A Facebook post was brought to light where Ramsaran allegedly made assumptions that Jennifer was dead, before her body was located, near the time the van the found.
“I was going through a roller coaster,” said Ramsaran. “It was hell. I had to be happy in front of the kids.”
Garcia ended by asking his client if he often spoke too much.
“Yes, I tend to speak a lot and I tend to ramble on,” he said.
Following Garcia’s direct examination, McBride’s cross-examination resulted in high tensions, raised voices, and admonishments from Judge Revoir.
Near the beginning of McBride’s line of questioning, he said, “You’re 39 and still have the nickname Psycho? You have a weight room in your house and you’re a marathon runner.”
Ramsaran said that was correct.
“You could kill your wife with your bare hands,” said McBride.
Said Ramsaran, “I could not. Absolutely not.”
McBride pointed out that Ramsaran deceived his wife about his affair continuously.
“You’re good at deceiving people, aren’t you?” McBride asked.
“My wife, but no, not numerous people,” Ramsaran said.
“When your wife was working, you were having sex with her best friend, correct?” asked McBride. Ramsaran said yes.
McBride’s attempted to refute the defendant’s assertion that he had a loving relationship with Jennifer by reading various text messages. Ramsaran responded that those text messages were being read out of context. McBride also brought up a Facebook conversation with a woman Ramsaran said he had never met in person, and that Ramsaran had deleted contents of his cell phone.
Ramsaran answered that he never met the woman he spoke to on Facebook, and he was simply deleting items on his phone to reduce his memory overload. Ramsaran also deleted his Facebook conversations with Sayles. “I deleted a bunch of stuff, man,” said Ramsaran.
Said McBride, “Don’t ‘man’ me.”
“You said nasty stuff via text message, and nine days later your wife is dead, correct?” asked McBride.
Ramsaran said, “I do not know when my wife died.”
“You were with Jennifer the morning of Dec. 11, 2012 and her body was found naked Feb. 26, 2013. You were the last person to be with Jennifer alive, correct?” asked McBride.
Said Ramsaran, “Yes, but that has nothing to do with me.”
McBride claimed Ramsaran was very mad the morning of Dec. 11 because she was spending time playing the game on her iPod Touch while in bed. Ramsaran said he was not mad that morning, and she was on her iPod but in the kitchen.
“You never once said to police she was playing the game the morning you killed her,” McBride said.
Ramsaran said he couldn’t recall if he had told police on any of the hundreds of communications with authorities if he had mentioned she was on her iPod.
McBride additionally showed still photos of Ramsaran as he was entering the YMCA, and said he was not wet, as the defendant stated. McBride said the ground was barely wet. Ramsaran said it rained during his run.
Ramsaran again told the jury after his time at the YMCA he went home, and his wife did not return and he was worried.
“She didn’t come home because you killed her,” said McBride.
“No, that is not correct,” said Ramsaran.
“You dropped her phone,” said McBride.
“Not correct,” said Ramsaran.
“You then dropped her van at Plank Road Manor and walked to the YMCA,” said McBride.
“I did not kill my wife, I did not drop the van, I did not drop the phone,” said Ramsaran. “None of that is accurate.”
Garcia objected to McBride being argumentative toward the witness. The objection was sustained.
Various additional exchanges took place between McBride and the defendant. McBride claimed Ramsaran owed it to his children to go looking for his wife.
Ramsaran admitted the last three times he had sexual relations with Jennifer were on July 23, 2012; Nov. 11, 2012; and Dec. 11, 2012.
“There was seminal fluid with a four-point match, and none matches me,” Ramsaran said. The defendant suggested the forensic report be checked.
With regard to the condition of the phone, Ramsaran said, “If experts say it wasn’t damaged, it wasn’t damaged.”
“Did you ever go out and try to find your wife?” asked McBride again.
“No,” said Ramsaran. “I did as instructed by (Chief Dominic) Commesso … leave it to the pros.”
Ramsaran said the day he was arrested, he did tell police that Jennifer was addicted to the game she spent hours per day playing on her iPod Touch. He said he made mention of the prescription drugs she was taking, and could not recall if he stated if Jennifer was or was not a good mother.
McBride asked if Ramsaran hit or hurt his wife on Dec. 11, 2012. “No,” said Ramsaran.
The DA pointed out the “obsession” Ramsaran had with Sayles and mentioned the number of phone calls the defendant attempted to make to Sayles from the Chenango County Correctional Facility. Ramsaran agreed that he spoke with Sayles 102 times and they both professed their love to one another.
“Are you aware of the substantial amount of evidence of motive to kill your wife?” asked McBride. He noted the conversations of divorce, Ramsaran’s girlfriend, and the financial motive.
Said Ramsaran, “No way, no how.”
“No one else had a motive to kill your wife,” said McBride.
“That’s not true; not even close to accurate,” said the defendant.
During redirect, Garcia made mention to McBride’s comment about the dry sidewalk on the photo showed to Ramsaran, when McBride said it wasn’t wet.
“If there was no rain on Dec. 11, how would there be muddy roads?” asked Garcia, as Det. Powell testified that the van had been driven on muddy roads. “If it didn’t rain, there’d be no mud on the roads.”
“Did you deceive Jennifer with respect to your affair?” asked Garcia. Ramsaran said he did. “Was that a motive to kill your wife?” The defendant said no. “Despite admitting to deceiving her, did you kill Jennifer when she was nude in your bed? Did you kill her by hitting her with barbells?” Ramsaran said no to both questions.
Ramsaran said he did not see any messages between Jennifer and Rob Houston, but mention was made about a Rob Smith, who was previously mentioned in the trial but no more mention was made on the record.
Asked Garcia, “Did you kill Jennifer?”
“No, I did not,” said Ramsaran. “Three days after I was arrested is when it was declared a homicide.”
Closing arguments are set to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Chenango County Courthouse.