IN 2009, 17-year-old schoolgirl Abickie Ferguson, who is  on trial for the murder  of her stepfather Glendon Scipio, had told the police in a caution statement: “On that afternoon I had just return home from school when he began  to follow me and abuse me. I stabbed him with a knife. Meh later heard that he is dead.” During the trial at the Demerara Assizes, Detective Sgt. Rajesh Persaud gave this account to presiding judge, Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed jury.
According to him, she gave the statement after he had told her about the allegation and had issued the necessary caution to her.
Sgt.  Persaud told the Court that relative to a report of the murder of Scipio on the 22nd of April, 2009, allegedly committed by Ferguson, he began conducting an investigation.
After identifying the youthful accused in the dock, the witness added that on the said day at about  20:00 hrs, he  contacted  Ferguson at Sparendaam Police Station in the Enquiries Office and in the presence of her father, Ronald Ferguson, he told her that he had information that she had stabbed her stepfather Glendon Scipio in his stomach at  Victoria Road, Plaisance, on Wednesday, 22nd April, 2009, and caused his death.
Sgt.  Persaud said: “I then cautioned her using the following terms: “You are not obliged to say anything unless you wish to do so but what you say may be put into writing and given in evidence.”
The witness told the Court that at no time did he use any force, threats, promise, or inducement to Ferguson, nor did she make any request.  
She replied: “Officer is true. Meh came from school and he locked the door and when he came downstairs, meh gone  upstairs, he follow me and abuse me. I picked up a kitchen knife and my neighbour Kevin tell me put it down. I put down the knife and went downstairs.  He came behind me again and abuse me, I tek a piece of wood and lash he on his foot and meh run upstairs and pick up the same knife and stab he in his left  side stomach.  He fell down and meh later hear he dead. Meh brother Rondell get de knife.”
Earlier in the trial the girl’s father, Ronald Ferguson, had testified that he has evidence, that the deceased had made several attempts to rape his daughter, the accused.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor Rhondel Weever who is  prosecuting in association with  Renita  Singh, disclosed that the accused had admitted to killing Scipio.
In her opening address to the jury the prosecutor stated that witnesses would lead direct and circumstantial evidence to prove the prosecution’s case.
Pointing out that it is the State that has  brought the case against the accused,  Weever said that it is the State that has the burden to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The prosecutor said further that in order  to prove its case the State intends to call several witnesses who  will either give direct or circumstantial evidence.
In April 2009, Glendon Scipio, Abickie Ferguson and Esther Simon, Abickie’s mother, lived at  78  Victoria Road, Plaisance, East Coast, Demerara.
On 22nd April, 2009 an incident took place  between Scipio and  Ferguson at the said home, resulting in an altercation that led to his death.
It is the State’s case that Ferguson stabbed  Scipio with a knife which resulted in his death.
A post-mortem examination was conducted on the body of Scipio by Dr. Brijmohan who concluded  that the cause of death was shock and haemorrhage and a cut to the aorta.
On Thursday the doctor who performed the post-mortem will testify.
However, Prosecutor Weever disclosed yesterday that one of the witnesses the prosecution had hoped to call  cannot be located.
Attorney-at-Law Huckumchand is appearing for the defence.