Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:48 AM
Sep 10, 2014 News
A former rank of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) accused of killing her ex-boyfriend’s mother earlier this year, was yesterday ordered to stand trial by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry for the murder.
Abiola Jacobs, 22, is slated to be called before a Supreme Court Judge and Jury for trial at the next sitting of the Demerara Assizes.
She was charged with murder days after the body of 55-year-old Donna Taylor was reportedly found lying motionless in her yard at Lot 16-17 Agricola, East Bank Demerara.
The housewife was said to have been attacked in her bed around 23:00 hours on January 31, last, and slain, after she was dragged to her backyard. The other occupant of the rented upper flat, Samantha Sabatt, was subsequently found lying unconscious in the front yard.
Sabatt, a British-based citizen was a guest of the Taylors, who reportedly escaped by removing the panes from her bedroom window and jumping to the ground from the top flat of the two-storey structure.
A neighbour and the victim’s son found Taylor’s body with her hands bound behind her back, a slit throat, and a piece of cloth was wrapped around her neck.
A post mortem later conducted showed that Taylor had suffered blunt trauma to the head, as well as injuries to the neck and other parts of the body. Death was due to shock and haemorrhage.
The former army rank, who was the girlfriend of one of Taylor’s sons, was apprehended and charged for murder after Sabatt, who survived the attack, fingered her as one of the individuals who forced their way into the residence and launched an attack on them.
She was first brought before the Chief Magistrate on February 5, last, to face the capital charge. Jacobs was represented by Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson and prosecuted by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Prosecutor, Police Corporal Bharat Mangru.
Amongst those who testified during the preliminary inquiry (PI) was the deceased woman’s husband Bertrand Taylor Sr., her son Bertrand Taylor Jr., daughter Marcel Collymore and son-in-law Charles Collymore. Jacobs’ mother, Gwendolyn Younge, also testified at the Prosecution’s behest.
It was the said PI that made local history for the Magistrates’ Court after the Chief Magistrate delivered a decision allowing a witness to testify over the internet via computer software technology, Skype.
The Prosecution’s star witness, Samantha Sabatt, on August 8, last, related what she witnessed in relation to the matter via the computer software. It was reportedly the first time such a decision was made in the Magistrates’ Court.
Sabatt was the last to testify and as the case was called again yesterday, the Prosecution moved to close its case. This was followed by submissions from Thompson (Jacob’s attorney) who claimed that the Prosecution had failed to prove that Jacobs had murdered Taylor.
The Magistrate however ruled that a prima facie case of murder had been made out against Jacobs.
As the PI concluded, the Chief Magistrate called on the accused to lead a defence and she opted to offer an unsworn testimony. Jacobs stood in the prisoners’ dock and for a few minutes told the court her version of events.
The Chief Magistrate indicated that based on the evidence she is of the opinion that a sufficient case of murder was made out against her to stand trial for the housewife’s murder.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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