THE jury of five women and seven men sitting in the ‘septic tank murder trial’ were yesterday asked to find the accused Ralph Tyndal, also called ‘Dick’, and Anthony De Paul Hope, called ‘Papa’, not guilty of the murder of Colleen Forrester.The body of Forrester was found in a septic tank at 55 William Street, Campbellville by spiritual Elder, Winslow Smith, who carries on a church at East La Penitence, where she was said to be a member.
Smith did not give evidence at the preliminary inquiry but because his name featured at the jury trial he was called by the prosecution to give rebuttal evidence.
In giving that rebuttal evidence, Smith admitted that he carries on a spiritual church and that Forrester was one of his members.
He carried on church every Sabbath but denied a defence suggestion that he was present with Forrester when she was last seen alive.
He told the prosecutrix that he would have seen Forrester on the last Sabbath before Christmas, since he holds church on Saturdays. He said that the woman was a member of his church but he had nothing to do with her death.
In answer to Attorney-at-law Melvin Duke, Smith denied a suggestion that his search in Forrester’s yard and finding her body in a septic tank did not give anyone the right to say that he knows about her death.
Smith said that when he opened the septic tank, he saw what appeared to be different colours of clothing. It was not until he called his son who was on the road, and who came into the yard and searched, that the boy realised that there was a body in the tank.
Smith said it was at this stage that he called in the police who began investigating.
Duke noted that despite all of this information, the police did not see the wisdom in taking a statement from Smith.
Counsel further asked the jury to give his client the benefit of the doubt by returning a verdict of not guilty in his favour.
In his address to the jury yesterday, Attorney-at-law Madan Kissoon said his client Tyndal was present on the scene because he was invited by his friend who resided there.
And his friend was attempting to hide him in a wardrobe after learning that Forrester was around, and as caretaker she had determined that no one should be invited there when she was away.
According to Kissoon, Tyndal was more of a spectator than a participant and he asked the jury to give him the benefit of the doubt by returning a verdict of not guilty in his favour.
When the hearing resumes today the prosecution will address the jury.
Presiding Judge Madame Roxanne George will address the jury tomorrow and hand over the case to them for their consideration and verdict.

By George Barclay