Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 04, 2016 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News
The trial of murder accused, Orin Jerrick, has commenced at the Georgetown High Court. Jerrick was
indicted for the murder of minibus driver, Gavin Fiffee.
The 31-year-old father of two was fatally stabbed in the vicinity of the Plaisance minibus park, on July 31, 2014.
Initial reports had indicated that on the day in question, the driver had been loading his minibus at the Plaisance bus park when another man began urinating on the wheel of the vehicle. This angered passengers and when Fiffee confronted the man, an argument ensued.
At some point during the argument the man allegedly stabbed the bus driver to the upper right chest.
Fiffee, of 93 Sideline Dam, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, (ECD) was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) by a public spirited citizen. The man bled profusely and despite efforts to save his life, he succumbed on the operating table of GPHC.
Jerrick was identified as a suspect in the matter. He was later charged with the murder. His trial began yesterday after a mixed 12-member jury was empanelled before Justice Navindra Singh. The accused has since pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Attorneys -at- Law Nigel Hughes and Peter Hugh are providing the accused with legal representation.
State Prosecutors Siand Dhurjon, Narissa Leander and Michael Shahoud are set to call 10 witnesses to testify during the trial. The first witness to testify on behalf of the State yesterday was the victim’s mother, Sharon Payne.
Payne told the court under oath, that she received a telephone call on July 31, 2014. The woman recalled that based on the information received during the telephone conversation, she hurried over to GPHC. Payne said that she saw her son lying on a bed in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit of the hospital; tubes were attached to his body and a plaster was on his right side.
The woman recalled that sometime later she went to GPHC mortuary and identified the body of her son.
Police Detective Phillip Bowman subsequently testified that Jerrick was in the company of his Attorney when he met him at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on August 6, 2014. The accused handed over a type written statement to Inspector Bowman.
The policeman told the court that he put the allegation of murder and cautioned the accused and he (Jerrick) responded by saying that he is relying on the information provided in his statement.
The detective said that Jerrick subsequently provided the police with a statement in regards to the matter. Bowman recalled that he also witnessed the Post Mortem examination performed on the body of the deceased and later uplifted the PM report.
Under Cross examination by Attorney Nigel Hughes, the witness recounted that he noticed that the accused had visible injuries about his body. He said that a medical certificate was issued to Jerrick after he was seen by a doctor at GPHC.
Bowman noted that Jerrick had injuries to the exterior of his elbow. The Attorney then asked the police if he had investigated whether the injuries were consistent with someone being defensive during an attack.
“No sir,” replied Bowman. Further pressed about the issue the witness told court he had no reason for doing so.
He however agreed that based on the statement, the accused had specifically said that he tried to block his attacker.
The witness also agreed that based on the statement, the victim (Fiffee) was at the time armed with a cutlass. Inspector of police, Debra Small subsequently testified that she organized an identification parade in which men of similar stature age and nationality were placed.
Small said that the accused was placed among the male suspects. She was cross examined by Attorney Peter Hugh. Under cross examination the witness vehemently denied that the accused was the only participant with visible injuries about his body.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 19, 2024
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