SEVERAL witnesses testified on Monday in the ongoing trial of Nykoyese Gritten, called Kosi or Elijah, who is on trial for the June, 2014 alleged murder of moneychanger Wendell Liverpool, called Spence, which allegedly took place at 453 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme in Georgetown.The trial is being held before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member jury in the High Court.

Police witness Senior Superintendent Mitchell Caesar testified that he assisted in the investigation. He told the court that on January 23, 2015 at about 15:00 hrs, he contacted Detective Kester Cosbert in his office at CID headquarters, Eve Leary, and the accused was brought in and the allegation of murder was put to him.

Caesar said he told Gritten that on June 20, 2014, he, in counsel of others, robbed and later killed Liverpool, after which he was cautioned.

He stated that Gritten said he was in Suriname at that time, and his passport will prove that; and upon further questioning after the passport was presented before him, he admitted that he could not lie anymore.

Caesar added that he contacted Sergeant King of Central Passport and Immigration Office, whom he asked to provide the travel history of the accused.

The officer stated that when it was put to Gritten that he was in Guyana at the time of the incident, the accused blurted out: “I cannot lie to you anymore”, after which he was cautioned again, and he said: “The passport already showed you certain things.”

Caesar said he asked the accused if he wanted to make a written statement, and he declined, based on his lawyers’ advice, and said he was “sorry if I would do a thing for him.”

The passport in question was tendered and admitted as evidence in the trial.
However, under cross examination by Defence Counsel George Thomas, the policeman was asked whether the passport in favour of Gritten was in his possession when he was arrested, and Caesar said yes, and it was lodged.

A suggestion was put to Caesar that he was a part of a party of ranks that had escorted Gritten to Diamond during the probe, and that Gritten was taken to the Le Repentir Cemetery, where Caesar had fired gunshots in his direction.

Caesar said that, because of his rank, he doesn’t escort prisoners, and was not there.

The matter continues today.

The state prosecutors are Orinthia Schmidt and Michael Shahoud, while the Defence Counsel is George Thomas.

Gritten, of James Street, Albouystown, is accused of murdering Liverpool at some time between June 20 and 24, 2014, at West Ruimveldt, during the course of a robbery.

Gritten was arrested more than seven months after the death of Liverpool, who was shot outside a night spot after a gang of three masked men robbed him.

It was reported that the money changer was sitting with one of his brothers when three men on bicycles rode up to the siblings. There was reportedly a brief exchange of words between Liverpool and the men before he was shot.

After he had collapsed on the roadway, the men reportedly relieved the money-changer of a large gold chain, two gold rings encrusted with small diamonds, and a gold band.

Liverpool was rushed to the GPHC, where he later succumbed.