Accused says killing of step-father was act of self-defence

BOTH the prosecution and defence counsels in the stepfather murder case will, this morning, address the jury on how they should perceive the expressed views put forward to them.

The defence is expected to urge the jury to return a not-guilty verdict, while the prosecution would ask for a guilty verdict, in keeping with evidence led.

Attorney-at-law Miss Sonia Parag, who led the defence, will contend that the accused should not be convicted because he was acting in self-defence against his stepfather Ralph Jacobs, who was allegedly ill-treating his brother at the time; and he had become involved in the matter as a peacemaker, but had also became a target of the attack. The accused said his brother and sister had habitually been beaten by his stepfather.

But Prosecutrix Miss Natasha Backer will most likely point out, among other things, that the accused Anthony George, called Ryan, of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, had admitted under cross-examination that he had been upset at his stepfather beating his brother, and that was what had prompted him to intervene as a peacemaker; and when his step-father attacked him with a bottle, a friend gave him a knife, with which he stabbed his stepfather.

Following addresses to the jury by the various lawyers, Justice Dawn Gregory would decide when she would address the jury and hand over the case to them for their consideration and verdict.

(By George Barclay)