AN Assize jury trying Clive Knights for the murder of GTM employee Burt Whyte in 2012 yesterday listened to evidence from New York based on an audio/visual link.Testifying firstly was brother, Steve Whyte of Phoenix Park, West Bank Demerara, who said that on the day in question, he was at home watching television when he received a telephone call from a friend. As a result, he went to the GPHC’s A&E Department, where he saw his brother, Burt Whyte, lying on a bed motionless.
He was dead, and had what appeared to be blood on his clothing and two puncture wounds to his chest.
Forensic Pathologist, Dr.Nehaul Singh later performed a post-mortem which found that the deceased had sustained two wounds said to be inflicted with a sharp circular instrument at least 18 cm in length. The cause of death was given as haemorrhage and shock due to perforation of the heart and lung, as well as stab wounds.
Prosecutrix Mrs. Judith Gildharie-Mursalin, who along with Miss Narissa Leander is prosecuting, told the jury that the 44-year-old Burt Whyte had been employed at GTM Insurance Company at Robb & Hincks Streets; and on the day in question, Burt Whyte left his home to drop his niece off at her school, Concord Academy, located at New Market Street, Georgetown.
At about 5.15pm, Burt Whyte allegedly picked up his niece, and the girl had said there was the presence of another man in the car when her uncle dropped her at the Stabroek Market, from where she took a boat to go across the river where she lived.
According to the prosecutrix, the police launched an investigation into the death of Burt Whyte, and a wanted bulletin was issued for the accused. Searches also began for Burt Whyte’s car, which was missing.
Police found Burt Whyte’s car, PKK 6586, on May 18, 2012 in Stanley-town, Berbice. It appeared to have been locked and abandoned. The car had number plates PJJ 7701, while PKK 6589 was marked on the mirrors, glass and lights.
According to the prosecutrix, police officers were conducting a road block exercise at the Soesdyke/Linden Highway in August 2012 when a minibus which was heading to Georgetown was stopped and the accused was found seated in the bus. When a police officer asked him his name, he said it was Tony David. That Police Officer, Marlon Langhorne, recalled there was a wanted bulletin of someone matching the description of the accused, and he detained the accused and contacted Brickdam Police Station for information about the person in the wanted bulletin.
As a result, detective Corporal Kester Cosbert went to the Highway Patrol Base where he identified Clive Knights, because he said he knew him for a number of years.
The accused, Clive Knights, is charged with the murder of 44-year-old Burt Whyte on May 14, 2012, at Bentick Street, Cummingsburg, Georgetown, the prosecutrix said.
Attorney-at-law Mrs. K. Thompson is defending Clive Knights.
The trial is continuing.
By George Barclay
