MURDER accused, Desiree Jeffers who is facing trial for the murder of her ex-policeman lover, Igris Bobb Blackman, began her defence yesterday with an unsworn statement that she got into trouble because she was kind.

Asking the jury to find her innocent for the death of Blackman whose body was fished out of the septic tank at her residence at Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, she said she got to know him in 2006 when she rented him a room at her home, after he was put out of his uncle’s home.
He could not have paid the rent she charged him so she gave him the room free of charge, so that he would be able to take care of the property when she was out of the country.
She said that because she was kind they became intimate friends but she related incidents to the jury, citing one occasion when his sister phoned her enquiring about Blackman, who is also known as David.
She also told about contacts with the police who entered her home in search of the missing Blackman. According to her, the police conducted a search at the home but found nothing.
However, she said that in a septic tank outside, they found Blackman wrapped in a carpet and tied with a rope.
She declared that when she was taken to the septic tank, she said: “Oh my God, I am not responsible for this.”
Despite this denial, she said that Assistant Superintendent, Paul “looked at me and said, “I have reason to believe that you know about this murder.” He then arrested me.
The accused added: “I have never threatened anyone and am not responsible for Mr. Blackman’s demise.”
Her lawyer, Mr. Peter Hugh, who is appearing in association with Miss Latchmie Rahamat, told Justice Dawn Gregory that he would be calling his first witness this morning.

(By George Barclay)