EYEWITNESS Stacy De Cambra in the Herstelling wife-killer’s case told a Demerara Assize judge and jury she saw accused Jeffrey Ward stabbing away at her aunt Donnette Ward.According to De Cambra, it was on April 24, 2010 and her aunt who had left the country had just returned from Barbados, and she was helping her to unpack her suitcases.
The eyewitness identified the 52-year old accused, who was sitting in the dock confirming he was her aunt’s husband.
De Cambra also told the jury that before her aunt left Guyana she lived at Lot 100, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara with her husband, children and grandmother.
On Thursday April 22, 2010 her aunt Donnette Ward came to visit them from Barbados.
“ I was at home; about 1:30 p.m to 2 p. m…On that day I was helping her unpack her suitcases. Jeffrey Ward came to the house that afternoon; he greeted me and went into the bedroom with my aunt,” De Cambra stated.
“I recall Saturday April 24, 2010 about 10:30 a.m. I was at home, Jeffrey Ward came. My great grandmother and my two foster aunts were also at home. I was in my bedroom. My aunt Donnette also was at home.”
“Jeffrey Ward and my aunt Donnete Ward were in her bedroom which was the eastern most bedroom. I heard my aunt scream, calling for me “Stacy! Stacy come!” I ran to the bedroom where my aunt Donnette Ward and Jeffrey Ward were.”
“The bedroom door was open. As I entered the room I saw Jeffrey Ward sitting on my aunt’s thighs. She was lying on the bed on her back. Jeffrey Ward was stabbing my aunt Donnete Ward with a knife. It looked like a “Rambo knife.” It had a black handle and stainless steel blade. He dropped the knife and came after me with a smaller knife. The other knife was on the bed on his left hand side. I was about 10 feet away from him. Nothing was blocking my view. He jumped off my aunt and came at me. I had to back away; he was firing stabs at me.
“My aunt was lying on the bed. My aunt Donnette Ward got up and ran out the front door. She ran out the bedroom door which was at the south side of the bedroom. I did not observe anything about her at that time. Jeffrey Ward turned away from me and ran after my aunt. I ran after him and locked the front door. He was on the verandah about to re-enter the house.”
“I observed my aunt Donnette Ward had a long cut on her hand. I observed other cuts about the body, on her left leg, breast and tummy. I started calling my aunt’s name but she did not respond.”
“When I saw Jeffrey sitting on my aunt he was wearing a black and blue shirt and a khaki coloured pants. My aunt’s bedroom was very bright; sunlight was coming in through the windows on the northern and eastern sides of the room.”
“I later gave a statement to the police at the Providence Police Station in relation to this matter and I signed the statement-my aunt Donnette Ward is dead. “
Forensic Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh testified that he performed a post mortem on the body and found nine incised wounds. The wound that caused death was the one on the chest, the doctor said.
Justice Navindra Singh is presiding over the trial while Mrs. Judith Gildharie-Mursalin is prosecuting and Mr. Huckumchand is the defence attorney.
The hearing is continuing.

(By George Barclay)