THE jury for the Christmas Day murder which took place at James Street, Albouystown, in 2015 was empanelled and the trial started before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member jury on Wednesday in the Georgetown High Court.

The state’s case is being led by Abigail Gibbs who told the court that the accused, Mark Greaves was indicted for the December 25, 2015 murder of Winston Fredericks called “Fluffy” in the county of Demerara.

The accused pleaded not guilty and is being represented by defence attorney, George Thomas.

The state is expected to call nine witnesses to take the stand.

In her opening statement, Prosecutor Abigail Gibbs told the court that the accused, who stands indicted for the murder of Winston Fredericks, reportedly stabbed the deceased during a heated argument.

She added that the men had a row and during the exchange, the accused reportedly inflicted the fatal stab wound on the deceased, who did odd jobs in the area.
The state called its first witness, Dr. Vivekanand Brijmohan, who testified that he performed the post-mortem on the body of the deceased at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary.

Dr. Brijmohan told the court that he observed a stab wound to the left upper neck near the ear lobe on the body of the deceased.

He gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage as a result of a stab wound.

Earlon Batson, who is self-employed, testified that he identified the body of his uncle, Winston Fredericks.
Police Constable Leslie Williams then took the stand and told the court that on the day in question, he was on duty at the CID Head Quarters’ Crime Lab when he was instructed to visit a crime scene at James Street, Albouystown where he took 15 photographs.

He testified that he printed 15 photos and uplifted same which he presented in the magistrate’s court in 2016.

Xavier Vasconcellos, an ex-cop testified via Skype from Miami, Florida, stating that on December 25, 2015, he was on duty at East Ruimveldt Police Station General Duties Section when he was instructed by then sergeant, Herbert Henry, to escort the accused to the Diamond Hospital where he was examined by a doctor and issued a medical report after which, he was placed in custody.

Detective Inspector Herbert Henry testified that he was the Inspector in-charge of Crime at the East Ruimveldt Police Station and relative to a report of an alleged murder committed on Winston Fredericks on December 25, 2015, he, in company of then Deputy Superintendent Michael Kingston, visited the Golden Grove Police Station.

There they contacted the accused Mark Greaves and escorted him to CID office. They then identified themselves as policemen in plain clothes after which the allegation of murder was put to Greaves.

Henry said he cautioned the accused who then began telling him his story and he was asked whether he wanted to give a written statement and he elected Henry to record same for him.

The witness told the court that the accused requested a phone call to his sister during which he was heard saying “I want to tell the police what happened” before he ended the call using Henry’s cell phone.

As such, a caution statement form was filled out with his particulars and his statement was recorded by Inspector Henry after which he affixed his signature in the presence of Deputy Superintendent, Michael Kingston.

The proceedings continue today (Thursday) when more witnesses are expected to testify.