PICTURES captured by surveillance cameras in the compound of Cool Square on the night of an alleged murder were shown at the trial yesterday to support the evidence of a star witness for the prosecution.
Star witness Mr. Andre Patterson, manager of the Cool Square business, said that after he heard the explosion, he learnt that Harding was killed. He carried out an inspection and then consulted his cameras.
According to him, “I was able to recognize two men who participated in the alleged robbery/murder – a fair skinned man whom I can recognize if I see him again, and the accused Junior Bourne, the man accused of the killing of Rawle Harding.
Patterson said that Cool Square had been in operation for the past 16 years. He said that at about 9.30 p.m. on that date, he arrived at the business and went into the bar area, where he saw Mr. Rawle Harding with two friends drinking. “I had a conversation with him, then I went upstairs and retired to bed,” Patterson said.
Witness declared that while he was in bed, at about quarter to eleven, he was awakened by an explosion. He went downstairs to see what had happened, and observed that there was a hole in Harding’s chest. He did not see any blood.
Witness said that he went back upstairs and reviewed the camera footage. From the review, he saw the two men enter the bar, call on the waitress who was working at the time, bought a drink and began sipping at it. Later they launched an attack on Mr. Harding, both of them being armed with firearms.
After they attacked Mr. Harding, they began relieving him of his jewellery. Another shot was fired, and then Mr. Harding fell. One of the men jumped over the counter and into the bar. He opened a drawer and took some cash from it.
Witness told the judge and jury that the accused sitting in the dock was one of the men who had entered the bar that night and killed Mr. Harding.
In answer to defence counsel Mr. Huckumchand, witness said he did not make a mistake. He had viewed the film over and over again, and had recognized the accused by his face.
The video was shown, but neither the defence nor the prosecution asked Paterson any question. The hearing continues today.
State Prosecutrix Miss Natasha Backer is prosecuting. Justice James Bovell-Drakes is presiding.
(By George Barclay)
