FOLLOWING the testimony of Forensic Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, the prosecution in the Woolford murder trial closed its case on Friday. Five witnesses had been called to testify for the prosecution.

Charles Anthony Woolford is on trial for the alleged murder of his wife Latoya, said to have been committed on February 8, 2009. He began his defence with an unsworn statement from the dock, in which he said that, on the day in question, he had gone to work, and when he returned home in the afternoon, he was surprised to meet his wife and a man sitting in the same chair. He gave the man’s name as Andy.

Witness said that when he enquired from his wife what was happening, she told him that the house was the property of her aunt, and that she could bring into it anybody she wanted.

The accused said she confronted him, and he had to push her from in front of him. He said that after he had moved her, the man, who was armed with a knife, attacked him; and he was trying to grab the knife when his wife, who was trying to part them and take away the knife, apparently got cut in the palm of her hand in the process.

The accused said two men later turned up and told him that he was going to die on that day, causing him to run away from the scene.

Prosecution witnesses had earlier testified that the wife, who was wounded in the abdomen, had died in hospital.

Justice Brassington Reynolds, presiding in the trial, had hoped to hear addresses from both the defence and prosecution by yesterday afternoon, but this had to be changed after defence counsel Mr. Peter Hugh disclosed that defence witness Winifrede Archibald of Texas would not be in New York before Wednesday next; and, as such, he was asking for an adjournment to that date, when the witness would be able to testify via AV Link – Skype communication.

Justice Reynolds granted the application.

Prosecuting for the DPP are Miss Mercedes Thompson, Miss Orinthea Schmidt and Mr. Michael Shahoud. The hearing is expected to continue on Wednesday.

By George Barclay