MADAM Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and the jury in the ‘Joel’ murder trial heard Wednesday from the prosecutrix Miss Diana Kaulesar, that the accused — Joseph Williams, called ‘Joel’ — together with persons unknown, murdered Victor Da Silva on July 8, 2013 in the course or furtherance of a robbery.The prosecutrix in her opening remarks said the facts are that on July 8, 2013, Cecil Gajadhar left the gas station along with Victor Da Silva, who was his friend. They were headed to the bank with some money, but when they were within the vicinity of the koker at Kingston, the vehicle in front of them stopped suddenly, causing Gajadhar to stop his car, and gunshots rang out. Gajadhar was shot, and so was Da Silva, as was confirmed by the post–mortem done on his body on July 10, 2013.

The cause of Da Silva’s death was given as multiple gunshot injuries.

In an interview with the police, the accused Joseph Williams, called ‘Joel,’ admitted that he was part of a plan to rob Gajadhar and Da Silva. He admitted to tracing their vehicle, which he described as a silver-coloured RAV 4.
On the morning of the incident, he and the others acted purposefully. His role was to track the car and the others would “take” the car. This is what he told the police.

He claimed he did not know the names of the three other persons who were part of plans to effect the robbery.

Counsel told the jury: “It would be for you to examine this plan, along with the other evidence in the prosecution’s case, and to determine the scope of that plan, the extent of the accused’s involvement, and his liability for his actions.”

The hearing will continue.
(George Barclay)