LAST Tuesday, the re-trial for recaptured 2017 prison escapee Stafrei Alexander got under way before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member jury in the Demerara High Court.

In presenting the state’s case, prosecutor Orinthia Schmidt told the court that the accused was indicted on two counts. First, was attempt to commit murder and the second was discharging a loaded firearm with intent (alternative counts) which took place on March 23, 2015 at Laing Avenue, Ruimveldt.

She said on the date in question at about 12:30hrs, the accused discharged a loaded firearm at Curtis Thom with intent to murder him.

Thom then took the stand, where he detailed what took place on the morning after his baby’s christening.

He told the court that he was at his home at 138 Laing Avenue and he had a function in front of his yard to observe his daughter’s christening.

However, at 01:00hr when the event ended, he was feeding his dogs in his backyard when the accused passed him and grumbled ‘something’, but he did not hear what he said.

Thom added that he was about to open the bottom half of his back door and as he was reaching for the grill, he saw the accused in front of him.

At that point, he saw the accused pointing a gun (shiny object) at him and he then heard echoes (gunshots) and saw smoke, after which he felt a burning sensation in his chest.

Thom told the court the accused Stafrei Alexander did not say anything and he fell to the ground and heard another shot after which he kept screaming for help.

The virtual complainant added that he then heard five to six more shots and managed to crawl inside his house when he was shot in his back.

Thom stated that when he was screaming for help he saw an Indian guy, who is a friend of the accused standing nearby in the passageway. He was empty-handed and he did not shoot at him.

Thom said he knew the accused for about 10-15 years before the incident by seeing him pass by and he lived about seven doors from him.

Wife of Thom, Rhonda Spencer, testified that at about 12:30hrs on March 23, 2015, she was by the back door watching her husband feed the dogs for a few minutes before she went to bed.

Within a few seconds, she heard what sounded like gunshots and said: “Oh s..t I hope is not Curtis”.

She saw her husband lying in the dining area of their home and he said: “He shoot me” after which she ran outside screaming for help.

Spencer related that neighbours came out and helped her place Thom in a car and they took him to the GPHC.

Detective Constable Jason Kyte took the stand and said he had assisted in the probe in March 2016, as he was stationed at the East Ruimveldt Outpost CID.

He noted that at about 2am on March 23, 2015, he visited the scene and questioned several persons but got no useful information and made checks around the place but found nothing of evidential value.

Kyte added that he went to the GPHC and contacted the virtual complainant who was a patient. He gave him certain information and he returned to Laing Avenue and made checks for the suspect, but he was not there.

The police witness stated that the victim told him it was the accused who had shot him on the morning in question.

Next on the stand was Detective Corporal Rawle Bacchus, who told the court in 2015 he was stationed at the East Ruimveldt Outpost CID and relative to a report of an alleged attempt to commit murder on Curtis Thom, he assisted in the probe.

He stated that on March 23, 2015, he went to the GPHC where he met Thom who was a patient who told him ‘something’.

As a result, the cop took a statement from Thom and he returned to the station.

In March 2015 he was at the GPHC operating theatre with Dr. London, who removed two metal objects from the body of the patient Thom, of which he took possession.

He added that he placed same in two separate white envelopes, sealed it with the police seal after which he initialled it. Bacchus said he also uplifted the medical certificate in favour of Thom and lodged it.

On November 7, 2015 he went to CID HQ and contacted the accused who was in custody having being arrested on November 5, 2015 by Constable Dawson at Mahaicony.

Bacchus said he put the allegation to the accused and he replied by saying: “No not me shoot he” and he refused to make a written statement when he was cautioned.

The police witness noted that he handed over the two envelopes to Detective Corporal Gravesande at the Ballistics Section HQ and uplifted same.

The medical certificate and the two envelopes which contained two spent shells were tendered, marked and admitted as evidence in the trial.

Detective Corporal Nigel Gravesande, who was deemed a ballistic expert, said he examined two components of ammunition. There were two fired .38 special bullets and he compared one and found that both striations marks were the same of which he opined that the two fired bullets came from the same firearm.

He was shown the bullets which were marked, tendered and admitted as evidence in the trial.

Detective Corporal Gravesande told the court that the two fired bullets came from a .38 revolver gun.

Lance Corporal Jason Bobb also took the stand, testifying that in March 2015 he was stationed at CID HQ and was on duty when he received instructions from an officer to conduct a confrontation with the accused and the VC.

He cautioned the accused after the victim related his story and he replied saying “Is not me shoot you, is Coolie Bai shoot you”.

Bobb said he asked both parties to sign and he made a diary entry to which he also affixed his signature and later submitted a statement.

The matter continues before the trial judge on Thursday.