At Demerara Assizes…
THE Alexander Village manslaughter case got underway at the Demerara Assizes yesterday, with 25-year-old Erica Fredericks indicted for the unlawful killing of her lover, Keon Adolphus.

In her opening address, to Justice James Bovell-Drakes and the mixed jury, State Counsel Prithima Kissoon, prosecuting, said the crime was committed on November 18, 2007, at Lot 35 First Street, Alexander Village, Georgetown, where Fredericks and Adolphus were living together.

Damion, son of the accused and her cousin, Orlando Williams also lived there.

The Prosecutor said, about 05:00 h that morning, Williams was awakened by what sounded like tumbling, pelting and falling.

He got out of bed, heard the accused call his name thrice and, on venturing out of his bedroom, saw her and the victim fighting in the kitchen.

Kissoon said Williams went between the fighters but Adolphus continued hitting the accused.

Williams then pushed the accused away from Adolphus but she picked up a knife and threw it at the latter who went back into his bedroom, leaving the other two in the kitchen.

Kissoon said Williams attempted to get the accused out of the house but as they were passing his bedroom door, Adolphus emerged and slapped her and the two became engaged in a scuffle.

Williams was in the process of parting them when he saw Fredericks stab Adolphus with a knife in his chest, the Prosecutor said.

Kissoon said Williams took the knife away from the accused and Adolphus was conveyed, by taxi, to Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), where he died the same morning.

A post mortem examination established that he succumbed to a stab wound in the chest.

The trial continues today