‘Killer’ murder trial begins with inquiry into confession
THE murder trial of Squince  Mc Lennon alias ‘Killer’, for the unlawful killing of Anson Melville called ‘Lepper’, began with a voir dire at the Demerara Assizes  yesterday.
The smaller trial was started by Justice Dawn Gregory to determine the admissibility of an alleged confession to the police by  the accused.
After the prisoner pleaded not guilty to the indictment on Monday and the jury was selected, leading State Prosecutor Judith Gildharie-Mursalin, associated with other State Counsel Konyo Sandiford, made an application to start the inquiry.
Gildharie-Mursalin said her objective is to relate the circumstances under which a caution statement was given by the accused,  on May 29, 2004, so it could be determined whether it was made freely and voluntarily.
Defence Counsel Basil Williams is objecting to the attestation being tendered in evidence, on the ground that it was secured with oppression and violence in breach of the Judge’s Rules.
Mc Lennon is indicted for having unlawfully killed Melville on January 11, 2004 but the start of the main trial will depend on the outcome of the ongoing proceedings, in which Detective Sergeant Chabinauth Singh, of Sparendaam Police Station, was the first witness to testify yesterday.