THE presiding judge in the Linden murder trial voir dire, Miss Jo-Ann Barlow, yesterday accepted in evidence a Caution Statement, in which murder accused Lakeraj Fredericks admitted shooting Clifton Bonus, called ‘Mutts’, in the head.The Caution Statement had him asking for help to bury Bonus, following a problem over marijuana. The partly decomposed body was found with gunshot injuries to the head during June, 2011.
Fredericks, 36, pleaded not guilty and is being represented by attorneys-at-law Lawrence Harris and Hewley Griffith.
The defence lawyers challenged the statement, which resulted in the judge holding a voir dire (a trial within a trial) to determine whether the statement was admissible.
The matter which was determined by the judge in the absence of the jury concluded when the judge announced her findings, which disclosed that the caution statement given to two police officers was admissible in evidence.
The statement was read to the jury by former Police Officer Troy Yorrick, who was attached to the Mackenzie Police Station in 2011.
According to him, on that occasion he and other police officers had gone to the Georgetown Prison to interview the accused when it turned out that the allegation about the killing was put to the accused, who was told of his rights, before he decided to give a written statement which was witnessed by Sgt. Trotman.
Yorrick who is in the mining business in the Port Kituma area said that Lakeraj Fredericks had given the statement to him after signing same and declaring that it was true and voluntary.
The trial continues today.