GREGORY Hamilton took the stand on Friday as the 2014 Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara attempted murder trial continues in the Demerara High Court before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member jury.

The witness is the brother of one of the virtual complainants (Sherwin Hamilton) who was shot and injured on November 2, 2014 at Land of Canaan when the accused allegedly opened fire on him and his uncle, Welton Edwards.

Gregory Hamilton told the court he was aroused from his sleep at about 12:10am on the night in question by his relatives who told him ‘something’.

He added that he ran to the public road where he saw his brother, Sherwin Hamilton lying on the ground with what appears to be gunshot wounds to his body.

Hamilton said he along with a police officer, Rawle King, placed the injured Sherwin Hamilton in a car and took him to the Diamond Hospital.

The witness stated that he was driving and when they got to the medical institution, they were told that no doctor was on duty.

However, their car was out of fuel and they then put Sherwin Hamilton in another vehicle in which the policeman King drove them to the GPHC where he was admitted for treatment.

Taking the stand next was Detective Constable Rawle King who told the court that he was on duty at the Timehri Police Station where he received a call about a shooting incident at Land of Canaan in which two males were injured.

The cop added that he and two other ranks went to the scene and upon approaching, he noticed a man lying on the western parapet of the public road.

King said on closer inspection, he noticed that the male was “Lazzo” (Welton Edwards) and observed two dark spots on his lower body.

The cop testified that he was assisted by someone with the light from a cellphone and realised that the man appeared to have received gunshot wounds.

He told the court that the man’s eyes were blinking and he was breathing, after which he was told ‘something’ and went to Old Road, Land of Canaan, a short distance away.

There he observed a male lying on the ground, crying out for pain. He then raised up the man’s jersey and saw what appeared to be gunshot wounds; he later learnt that the man was Sherwin Hamilton.

King said there was a blood trail on Old Road, Land of Canaan and he asked for assistance and placed the injured Sherwin Hamilton in a car and took him to the Diamond Hospital.

The cop related that they were told there was no doctor on duty. At the same time he saw the injured Welton Edwards there too.

The witness said Sherwin Hamilton did not receive any further injuries while on the way to the GPHC where he was admitted for medical attention.

King said that on December 2, 2014, he went to the GPHC registry where he uplifted two medical certificates in favour of Sherwin Hamilton and Welton Edwards and, as instructed, he took them to the Grove Police Station after making copies.

He lodged same with the Officer-in-Charge of CID and he made an entry in the property book.

At this point in the trial the state made an application for the medical certificates to be shown to the witness, who identified same and the application was granted by the trial judge for it to be marked, tendered and admitted as evidence in the trial.

King told the court that Lance Corporal Singh was in charge of the investigation, but after it was discovered that he and the accused appeared to be friends and were seen conversing in the CID office at Timehri, the matter was handed over to Sergeant Henry.

The probe was then handled by Sergeant Henry who went with King to the Chinese restaurant to take a statement from the owner who allegedly refused to cooperate.

The state’s case is being led by Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt while the defence counsel is Nigel Hughes.

Lisa Cave, who in her opening statement, said that on November 4, 2014, at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, the accused Dereck Jaisingh attempted to murder Sherwin Hamilton and Welton Edwards.

She related that Sherwin Hamilton, accompanied by his uncle, Welton Edwards, decided to visit the accused to ask him why he had beaten his nephew, Raymond Hamilton and without warning, they were shot.

Sherwin Hamilton received nine shots to his body while his uncle, Welton Edwards, was shot twice, Cave said.

The prosecutor stated that the duo were taken to the hospital and were treated after which the accused was charged.

Cave said the men were not robbers and they were unarmed when they went to enquire why the accused had beaten their relative, since they had no problems.

The matter continues before Justice Sandil Kissoon and more witnesses are expected to testify.