Onika on trial for murder of her husband Selwyn
THE 2006 Festival City murder trial began yesterday before Presiding Judge Roxanne George and a mixed jury at the Demerara  Assizes, where prosecution witness Hasea Jacobs testified that Selwyn King and his wife Onika have always been in a fight, with the wife being the aggressor in most cases.
Onika, who is accused of stabbing her husband to death on the 13th day of December, 2006, has pleaded ‘not guilty’ and is being represented by Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Peter Hugh.
The prosecution team includes Miss Prithima Kissoon and Miss Konyo Sandiford.
In her opening address to the jury, Miss Sandiford told them that at the time when the injuries were inflicted on Selwyn King, the accused – Onika King – either intended to kill Selwyn or to cause him serious bodily harm.
According to her, the accused was not acting in self defence when she allegedly killed Selwyn King.
Highlighting some facts of the case, the prosecutor said that evidence would be led to show that the couple used to fight a lot.
During the midmorning hours of December 13, 2006, Hosea Jacobs – a friend of the deceased, went to the couple’s lot 1830, Unity Place, Festival City, North Ruimveldt home to consult about a party that they were promoting. The men were in the promoting business.
Whilst there,  Hosea told Selwyn something about a female police officer, upon which Selwyn responded, stating a desire he wanted to fulfil with that female police officer. Onika King was in the living room during the conversation. When Hosea was leaving, walking down the stairs he heard Selwyn groan and say certain things. Onika King then came outside with a knife in her hand which appeared to have had blood stains. She spoke to Hosea and left.
Hosea eventually went upstairs only to see his friend in a crouched position begging for help.   Selwyn King was taken to hospital where he later died.
Onika was arrested at the said hospital and she was eventually charged with murder.
According to the prosecutor, a post mortem examination performed on the body two days later revealed that he died from shock and hemorrhage due to a stab wound to the heart.
She told the jury, “You will hear as part of the prosecution’s case direct and circumstantial evidence.  Direct evidence simply put, refers to evidence coming straight from witnesses from the witness box who will  come and tell you what they saw and did.
“Circumstantial evidence on the other hand simply amounts to pieces of evidence that can be reasonably put together by you like a jigsaw puzzle to make a whole picture.
“Mr. Foreman, ladies and gentleman of the jury, the State in order to prove its case intends to call 12 witnesses. Inclusive in those 12 witnesses, the State will call Hosea Jacobs who was present at the scene that morning, and he will recount to you the details of what transpired.
“It is your job Mr. Foreman, ladies and gentleman of the jury, to pay keen attention to the whole of his evidence and to give it the due weight it deserves.    Your task in this trial is no trivial one and I implore you to take it very seriously” the lawyer told the jury.
The hearing continues today.