TWELVE-year-old Nikita and her 45-year-old grandmother Colleen Forester had visited a three-bedroom home at 55 William Street, Campbellville in 2007 at which Forrester was the caretaker.No. 2 accused Anthony De Paul Hope, called ‘Papa’, her great cousin was also residing there. The girl identified ‘Papa’ and the other two accused in the septic tank murder trial, who she said used to visit her West Ruimveldt home to do construction work.
The witness told Justice Roxanne George and the mixed jury that on December 26, 2007, she and her grandmother went to the Main Big Lime on Main Street in Georgetown, where she spent about three hours and then went to King Plaza on Main Street to visit her sister, Janice Gravesande.
According to her, “we spent about two hours there. We then left for William Street, Campbellville. On arrival there me and my grandmother called ‘Papa’ but did not get an answer. I jumped the gate which was locked and walked up to the backstep. I turned the lock and I went in the bedroom where I saw Nick appeared to be sleeping. I went downstairs and saw ‘Papa’ . My grandmother then asked ‘Papa’ for the keys, ‘Papa’ jumped the gate, and went up the back stairs and came back with the keys”
Witness added, “I went to the toilet where I saw ‘Papa’ hiding Nick under a mattress. I then went downstairs to the front door that too was closed. A few minutes ‘Papa’ called me and told me that my grandmother asked me to go and buy two pounds of sugar and a pack of cigarettes.”
Witness said that when she returned there was water on the floor. ‘Papa’ told her that her grandmother had thrown away the tea water and she then saw what appeared to be blood on the mattress and her towel.
According to her, ‘Papa’ explained that he had ‘dug’ his foot and had wiped it with the towel.
Witness said that she also saw what appeared to be blood on ‘Nick’s’ foot. ‘Nick’, she said, explained that he had ‘dug’ his foot.
Witness said that she saw the wardrobe was turned facing the wall. ‘Papa’ explained, she said, that her grandmother had taken out his clothes and turned the wardrobe around.
Earlier witnesses had said that the woman who was reported missing was found in a septic tank in the same yard.
Police investigating the crime had arrested and charged three young men with the murder of Colleen Forrester.
Those charged are Ralph Tyndal, also called ‘Nick’, Antony De Paul Hope, called ‘Papa’ and Kevin O’Neil.
They are charged with having between the 27th of December 2007 and the 6th of January, 2008 in the county of Demerara murdered Colleen Forester.
Representing the accused are Attorneys –at-Law George Thomas, Madan Kissoon and Melvin Duke.
Conducting the case for the prosecution are Misses Diana Kaulesar, Stacy Goodings and Shawnette Austin. The trial is continuing.

By George Barclay