.jpg)
DEPUTY Supt. of Police, Linden Lord, who witnessed the alleged confession statement of accused Cyon Collier called ‘Picture Boy’ , for the double murder of two brothers – Ray Walcott called ‘Sugar’ and Carl Andrews called ‘Alo’ “celebrated” the entire day in the witness box yesterday. 
Following the accused denial through his counsel Mr. Lyndon Amsterdam, of confessing to the crime , Justice Diana Insanally began a voir dire (a trial within a trial) to determine the admissibility of the alleged confession or caution statement, said to be made by the accused.
Lord is among the witnesses who have so far testified in the voir dire for the prosecution in the absence of the jury who is out of sight and hearing, leaving the judge alone to decide the issue, which is mostly a question of law.
The prosecution, led by Senior State Counsel Mrs. Judith Gildharie-Mursalin, has decided to call all available witnesses to have the matter settled in the interest of justice.
Other witnesses already testified at the voir dire are Assistant Supt. of Police, Alwyn Wilson, the man who took the caution statement, and Sgt. T. Persaud, the Station Sgt. of Cove & John Police Station, in 2006.
When the voir dire started some days ago, prosecutor Mursalin expressed surprise at the defence since, according to her, the said allegation was not made by the defence before the magistrate at the preliminary hearing, but that it is said could be due to a change in counsel.
The accused is charged with having, on Saturday 23rd September, 2006 at Victoria East Coast, Demerara murdered Ray Walcott and Carl Andrews.
Detective Supt. Lord was testifying in the substantive trial before the jury when he pointed out that during the month of October 2006, he was stationed at the Vigilance Police Station.
According to him, on Thursday 5th October 2006, about 05:15 hrs, he and a party of policemen and soldiers were on a cordon and search exercise at Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara when they conducted a search at a house at Lot 23 Bachelor’s Adventure.
Witness said that, in his presence, Detective Inspector Kingston a member of the search party, contacted the accused in the said house and told him that he was in receipt of information that he, the accused, murdered Ray Walcott and Carl Andrews on 23rd September, 2006 at Victoria, by shooting them with an AK 47 rifle.
Witness said that, in his presence, Inspector Kingston carried out a search on a bed in the said house and found an AK 47 rifle and a .25 Astra pistol on the said bed.
Witness said that in the accused presence, he carried out a search under the bed where he found a Masburg Pump Action shot gun No 1. 745387 and 8 live 12-gauge cartridges. The accused was arrested and escorted to the Cove & John Police Station. The arms and ammunition were also taken to the Cove & John Police Station.
Following the accused denial through his counsel Mr. Lyndon Amsterdam, of confessing to the crime , Justice Diana Insanally began a voir dire (a trial within a trial) to determine the admissibility of the alleged confession or caution statement, said to be made by the accused.Lord is among the witnesses who have so far testified in the voir dire for the prosecution in the absence of the jury who is out of sight and hearing, leaving the judge alone to decide the issue, which is mostly a question of law.
The prosecution, led by Senior State Counsel Mrs. Judith Gildharie-Mursalin, has decided to call all available witnesses to have the matter settled in the interest of justice.
Other witnesses already testified at the voir dire are Assistant Supt. of Police, Alwyn Wilson, the man who took the caution statement, and Sgt. T. Persaud, the Station Sgt. of Cove & John Police Station, in 2006.
When the voir dire started some days ago, prosecutor Mursalin expressed surprise at the defence since, according to her, the said allegation was not made by the defence before the magistrate at the preliminary hearing, but that it is said could be due to a change in counsel.
The accused is charged with having, on Saturday 23rd September, 2006 at Victoria East Coast, Demerara murdered Ray Walcott and Carl Andrews.
Detective Supt. Lord was testifying in the substantive trial before the jury when he pointed out that during the month of October 2006, he was stationed at the Vigilance Police Station.
According to him, on Thursday 5th October 2006, about 05:15 hrs, he and a party of policemen and soldiers were on a cordon and search exercise at Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara when they conducted a search at a house at Lot 23 Bachelor’s Adventure.
Witness said that, in his presence, Detective Inspector Kingston a member of the search party, contacted the accused in the said house and told him that he was in receipt of information that he, the accused, murdered Ray Walcott and Carl Andrews on 23rd September, 2006 at Victoria, by shooting them with an AK 47 rifle.
Witness said that, in his presence, Inspector Kingston carried out a search on a bed in the said house and found an AK 47 rifle and a .25 Astra pistol on the said bed.
Witness said that in the accused presence, he carried out a search under the bed where he found a Masburg Pump Action shot gun No 1. 745387 and 8 live 12-gauge cartridges. The accused was arrested and escorted to the Cove & John Police Station. The arms and ammunition were also taken to the Cove & John Police Station.
The voir dire began after the prosecutor attempted to produce in evidence a caution statement which the accused had allegedly made but which counsel for the defence is now objecting to on the grounds that the accused was tortured into making the alleged statement.
The voire Dire continues today.
