TWENTY-three year murder accused Roxanne Daniels who is facing trial for the murder of her lover’s wife – Ayanna Hamilton – yesterday told the judge and jury:

“Ayanna attacked and wounded me. I was afraid and I used the knife to scare her away, when she ran down the stairs and fell. I did not intend to kill her.”

Following the closure of the prosecution’s case yesterday afternoon, by Miss Zamilla Alli, accused Roxanne Daniels, unlike most of the other accused who would give unsworn statements from the dock, elected to give evidence on oath where her story could be subjected to cross-examination.

She had been advised by her lawyer, Mr. Peter Hugh.

According to the State’s case, the marriage had broken up between Ayanna Hamilton and her husband Joe Hamilton resulting in the beginning of a friendship between the accused and Joe Hamilton.

The lovers were in bed on the night of January 6, 2007, when Ayanna turned up and knocked at the door sparking of trouble as Roxanne who answered the knock, was cursed and attacked.

In her evidence on oath, accused Daniels told the jury that prior to the conflict that night Ayanna (now deceased) would threaten to kill her whenever they met.

Accused added, “On the last occasion she told me, that she would kill me and that she would leave Joe, because he was her husband.”

Continuing accused said, that after opening the back door that night, Ayanna attacked her by pushing her backwards. She began firing cuffs at me and grabbing at me. We were scuffling because I was just out of my sleep. I was slow at first but then I started fighting back when I felt a burning about the body. I felt blood on my arm and on my face. I then realised that I was cut by Ayanna who must have had a sharp instrument.

Accused with the permission of presiding Judge, Justice Barrington Reynolds, was permitted to leave the witness stand to show off her scars to the jury, which she said resulted from the cuts inflicted by the deceased.
The trial is continuing.