…No statement about knowing relatives of deceased made yesterday
THE Kwasi Wilson murder case, which was aborted twice for almost the same reason, a juror knowing relatives of the deceased, was restarted yesterday, and continued without further incident.
Justice Roxanne George, presiding over proceedings, took precautionary measures to ensure the case was not aborted again for the same reason, by parading the relatives of the deceased and the accused before prospective jurors prior to their being selected and sworn yesterday.
No incident occurred, and a 12-member jury was empanelled to try Eon Williams, called ‘Georgie’, for the murder of Kwasi Wilson, called “Kwasi”, which allegedly occurred between the 9th and 10th days of April, 2007.
Inspector Ralph Park of the Brickdam Police Station, Constable Derwin Ramkin, Detective Sgt. Cedric Gravesande, and Kirk Lachich were among the prosecution witnesses who testified yesterday. Prosecutors are Miss Retina Singh and Miss Konyo Sandiford.
The witnesses related that the accused and the deceased, who were friends, were conversing that night when the talking turned into an argument and a scuffle, during which Kwasi allegedly pulled out a knife, and the accused, who tried to take away the weapon, was injured in his left palm.
The warring friends were parted, but allegedly left the premises and resumed their altercation a short distance away. Following that clash, an injured Kwasi was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
In a caution statement which Eon Williams, called ‘Georgie’, had given to the police, he is recorded as saying that he and the deceased had a scuffle. The deceased pulled a knife at him, and he was struggling to take away the knife. He was wounded in his left palm, and he did not know how the deceased got injured.
One witness said the accused had three wounds on the palm, while another witness maintained he had only seen a single wound.
However, that witness told defence lawyer, Mr. Compton Richardson, under cross-examination, that it was possible the accused could have suffered three wounds while he had seen only one.
The hearing continues today.