Latest update April 17th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 11, 2016 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News
With representatives of the United States Embassy in attendance for the second day in succession the
murder trial of former national volleyball stalwart, popular New Amsterdam Businessman and Remigrant Guyanese Charles Henry, called “Charles Bristol” or “Charlie” continued in The Berbice High Court before Justice Franklyn Holder and a mixed jury in the Berbice high Court.
When the matter continued on Wednesday the prosecution called three witnesses.
The murder trial began on Tuesday before Justice Franklyn Holder and a mixed jury in the Berbice high Court.
Bristol. 53, of Main Street and Lad Lane, New Amsterdam, is accused of killing Errol Lindo, 51, which allegedly occurred on Wednesday April 16, 2014 at High Dam, Caracas, West Canje, Berbice. The shooting allegedly stemmed from an altercation over land.
Attorney at law, Natasha Backer, outlined that on the day in question Henry and persons he employed, broke down the home of Lindo without Lindo’s knowledge and permission.
She stated that while dismantling the house, Lindo returned home. There was a disagreement and Lindo was shot. She said that Lindo died as a result of the gunshot injuries.
Twelve witnesses are expected to be called including police and civilian witnesses.
Henry is being represented by attorneys at law Nigel Hughes and Kim Kyte in association with Tamya Warren Clements.
Four witnesses were called when the matter began on Tuesday.
The main prosecution witness Travis Crandon was the third to take the witness stand and when the matter concluded for the day he was still on the witness stand being grilled by the defence.
Crandon took to the witness stand and outline a sequence of events. However by the end of the day Defence attorney Nigel Hughes who is appearing with Attorney at Law Kim Kyte in association with attorneys Tanya Warren Clements and Shabana Barnwell was trying to discredit the evidence of the witness.
Led by attorney at law Natasha Barker in his evidence Crandon told the court that he has been living at the residence for over 18 years. He knew Errol Lindo called “Son Son”. He also knows Charles Henry he would come in the area and harass the people and braking down their homes.
Around 15:00 hrs on the day in question he was going to collect his cows when he saw Henry and they had a conversation. He subsequently took his cows’ home and was returning to the road when he saw Errol Lindo arrived. He was carrying bag over his shoulder and was heading towards his house. He saw
Lindo entered the yard. Henry along with five others and Lindy’s sister was in the yard.
The witness stated that he saw when Henry took out a shine gun from his waist and shot Lindo four times. Lindo fell to the ground and was lying helplessly. During the time the man’s sister was with him. Lindo hadn’t anything in his hand. He said that he then moved from the dam into the yard. Henry he said then put the gun back into his waist and went on the dam and was standing by his car. Henry was talking on his phone. He remained at the scene until the police came and he assisted them in taking Lindo to the hospital.
He said that Henry was by Meena when the police spoke to him. He did not see when Henry left the scene.
Under cross examination by attorney at law Nigel Hughes, Crandon admitted that he doesn’t own the land that he has been living on. He is not renting the land nor was he given permission by anyone to live on the land. He just went and occupied the land. He knew Henry was claiming the land, but never received a letter from Henry’s Attorney to vacate the land.
He said that there was no bad blood between himself and Henry. But when nudged by Hughes admitted that he did say in the magistrate’s court that there was bad blood between them and it was not only bad blood, but “bad Blood from the start”. He also admitted that Lindo was an in law to him.
Grilled further the man admitted on numerous occasions to giving different statements to the police, in the Magistrate’s court and in the High Court.
The defence contended that Crandon never told the Police or magistrate that he stopped and spoke to Henry. He never told police or magistrate that he went and collect cows, although he mentioned it in his testimony in the high court.
But Crandon said that the house was already broken when he spoke to Henry.
Crandon stated that Lindo took about three to four minutes to get from the car on the Vryheid Road to the yard. Lindo entered the yard, and ran past Henry to his house where his sister was. As he turned around and was returning he was shot by Henry.
But he reportedly contradicted himself when he told the court that Henry never left the yard. However it was pointed out to him by Hughes that he had mentioned in his statement to the police that Henry came in after Lindo and shot him.
Crandon told the court on more than one occasion that Henry was shot four times. However Hughes pointed out to him that he had mentioned in his statement to the police that he had stated that Lindo was shot three times. He admitted that he told the police the man was shot three times.
He is expected to be furthered grilled by Hughes when the matter continues today.
Earlier the state had called Rookmin Dindyal who in her evidence stated that on the day in question. She saw Henry and two persons breaking down the house. Bristol was standing on Lindy Bridge. She called the police, but got no response. She left and was going to her daughter place when she saw Lindo coming. She did not look back because she was afraid. Bristol car was parked on the dam. Later she saw the car on fire.
Under cross examination by Hughes she said that she could not see in the yard because the bush was high.
The next witness was Indranie Nandalall called “Meena”. She has been living at the residence for over 16 years and has a small shop which she operates. She knew both Errol Lindo and Charles Henry, called Bristol. She said that she saw Bristol during the day; he was in Lindo’s yard. He was with some men who were breaking down the house. Bristol subsequently went by her and bough soap power.
She said that she was frying fish when she heard an explosion. She did not leave her yard because the crowd was too much. Bristol subsequently walked into her yard; he had something in his pocket.
People started to pelt bottles, bricks and dirt at Bristol and her. She asked Bristol to leave her yard. Bristol car was on the dam and started to blaze. She did not see Lindo during the day.
Under cross examination by attorney Kim Kyte the woman stated that the pelting started before the police arrived. The police had to fire a shot because of the crowd’s behaviour.
Some boys had searched the trench the next day and found an axe, tablet and gun holster. She stated that Lindo was not living at the residence and had moved out about three months ago. She did not know if anybody was living with him. She saw Henry’s car on fire. The crowd was still violent when the police arrived, she testified.
The matter is expected to continue today.
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