JUSTICE Navindra Singh yesterday issued a Bench Warrant for the arrest of ex-policeman Sherwin Braithwaite, one of five ex-policemen who failed to turn up in court to give evidence at the Vibart Assanah murder trial.

The warrant of arrest was issued after policewoman Corporal Semple testified that she had sent out messages to the five ex-policemen, and that she had further contacted Braithwaite by telephone, and he said he was out of town.
At the trial, Louis Lancaster is indicted for the murder of taxi driver Vibart Assanah, who was stabbed to death by one of two men who were in his car on October 26, 2008.
Mrs. Waveney Assanah, wife of the dead man, and her two sons Ray and Vaughn testified yesterday.
They told of visiting the Georgetown Hospital after receiving information from a newspaper reporter. On arrival at the hospital, they saw the lifeless body of Vibart Assanah carrying two stab wounds. His jersey was soaked in a red substance that appeared to be blood.
State Prosecutor Mrs. Konyo Thompson told the court, in her opening address to the jury, that evidence would be led to show that two men were in the car with the deceased, who was driving his Toyota Carina taxi when he was attacked and killed.
The accused was allegedly also injured, and was charged with murder. The prosecutor warned the jury that the accused is blaming the other man for committing the crime, and told them it has been the practice by persons, when two of them commit a crime, to always put all the blame on the one that escaped.
The trial will continue today at 1 pm, when it is expected that a witness will testify.