THE state on Wednesday closed its case in the 2014 murder of Nigel Lawson on Quamina Street, Georgetown, after the conclusion of the testimony from a key witness via Skype.

Lawson was allegedly killed by Kelvin Chisholm during an argument on May 14, 2014. He has since pleaded not guilty to the offence. The decision to close the case came after the state’s star witness, Rolin Sarrabo testified via Skype that he witnessed the incident which took place in front of his yard. The key witness told the court that on May 1, 2014 he used to live at Lot 250 Quamina Street, South Cummingsburg and at about 21:20hrs he left his house and was going to purchase a bag of chips when he saw two men and they were engaged in an argument.

As the men were getting close to him he recognised one as being Nigel Lawson, the deceased, who was saying “stop borin me, stop juking me” then followed by “aww bai you bore me” after which he took off his jersey and placed it at his chest. He then collapsed to the ground.
At that point, Sarrabo said the accused, who was on a bicycle, rode off into Thomas Street. He(Sarabo)then joined a bus and followed the man. He then identified the accused in the courtroom as the man whom he followed.

At the Thomas Street location, the witness told the court he told the accused to take the deceased to the hospital but he did nothing but said “Did you see me stab the guy” and he replied in the affirmative after which he called the police. Sarrabo testified that he was about 15 feet from the two men and he was able to see them clearly since he was facing them and the lighting condition was good. He identified the man on the bicycle as the accused who has one leg shorter than the other and walks with a ‘hop and drop’ and knows the men by seeing them in the neighbourhood.

Sarrabo added that he knows the deceased as the guy who used to do odd jobs around the area and he was always on Quamina Street asking for money. As for the accused, he used to see him from time to time. He recalled that on the evening in question, the argument was loud and he saw the accused swinging his hands but stated that he did not see the deceased cuff the accused who was at the time on a bicycle.

Sarrabo related via Skype from the United States that the deceased was trying to get away from the accused and he heard him say ‘put down my bag’ before the deceased collapsed. The witness added that he did not see the man on the bicycle fell off same nor did he see him pick up anything from the ground. Sarrabo said he cannot recall seeing any cell phone or iPod in the hands of the deceased but remember telling the accused to leave Nigel alone.
He told the court he did not see what weapon was used to commit the act and did not see Nigel fighting back, instead, he was trying to get away from the accused. Under cross examination by defence attorney Compton Richardson, it was suggested to Sarrabo that he was not telling the whole truth about what he witnessed that night. He responded by saying that is incorrect since he has no reason to lie to the court.

It was put to the witness that since the deceased was his friend, he fashioned his story in favour of him and he said he didn’t agree, since he is speaking the truth. Sarrabo told the court that he heard Nigel telling the accused to “stop borin me, stop jukkin me” three times.
Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, testified that he performed the post-mortem on the body of the deceased, Nigel Lawson, and gave the cause of death as perforation of the lungs and heart due to a stab wound at the left side of the chest. He added that a sharp instrument, likely a knife, was used to inflict the wound on the deceased and he did not observe any fractures on the arm of the deceased.

Detective Inspector Herbert Henry also took the stand and testified that during May 2014, he was stationed at the Kitty Police Station and relative to a report of an alleged murder committed on Nigel Lawson at Quamina Street, he received certain information. As such, he instructed Constable Thomas, who was under his supervision, to go to the location after which Constable Thomas told him ‘something’.

Henry said he then headed to the Brickdam Police Station and met Cadet Officer Arjune who is now Assistant Superintendent of Police and he told him ‘something’ after which the accused was pointed out to him. He was seated in the Enquiries Office and he escorted him to the CID office where he was put to sit. In the presence of Constable Thomas, he put the allegation of alleged murder to him and he said “dis man thief me thing, I went behind he, he cuff me and we had a scuffle. I tek meh knife and bore he.”

He was cautioned after which he elected Henry to write a statement for him on a caution statement form and he was told of his rights. The accused affixed his signature after reading the caution statement and also signed the first and second declaration and certificate which was attached to the caution statement. Henry told the court that he revisited the scene and retrieved the bicycle, the iPod and the cell phone which were lodged for safe-keeping. He added that he interviewed several persons in the area and he was the investigating rank who also obtained statements.

Henry stated that the accused was escorted to the Prashad Nagar Outpost where he was placed in custody. Several other witnesses testified, including Assistant Superintendent of Police, Stephen Telford who read the deposition of ex-cop Maxwell Grant who is overseas after an application made by the state was granted.

A total of 16 photos were taken by ex-Constable Grant which were marked, tendered and admitted as evidence in the trial. In her opening address, state prosecutor Tiffini Lyken told the court that on the evening in question at about 08:30hrs, the motionless body of Nigel Lawson was found on Quamina Street with a wound to the body. She related that he was taken to the GPHC where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Lyken added that a post-mortem on May 7, 2014, revealed that Lawson died as a result of perforation of the heart and lungs due to stab wounds. She added that the police conducted an investigation and the accused, Kelvin Chisholm, was arrested and charged for the offence.