Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 17, 2017 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News
A doctor will be the final witness to testify on behalf of Cadet Officer Franz Paul, who is on trial for allegedly shooting a 15-year-old boy in the mouth back in 2014.
This was disclosed on Tuesday by Paul’s attorney, Roger Yearwood, who was instructed by Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore to have the witness present when the matter comes up again on September 21.
It is alleged that on April 30, 2014 at Georgetown, Franz Paul discharged a loaded firearm at Alex Griffith, who was 15 at the time, with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm.
It is also alleged that on the same day, Franz Paul inflicted grievous bodiy harm on, and assaulted the teenager. The accused, who was charged since in 2014, has been released on High Court bail with respect to both matters.
Police Prosecutor Stephen Telford has already closed the case for the state.
Paul is currently leading his defence.
According to reports, Franz Paul’s sister, Nadia Paul was robbed on April 30, 2014. Thereafter, the Cadet Officer reportedly took her to the police station to make a formal report of the incident.
Based on information received, Griffith was later arrested by a party of policemen headed by Franz Paul. It was during the process that the Cadet Officer allegedly discharged a loaded firearm in the teen’s mouth. During an identification parade held at the Brickdam Police Station, Griffith positively identified his alleged shooter as Franz Paul.
On July, 25 Nadia Paul was called to testify.
She recalled that on the day in question at around 13:30hrs, she left her Lot 189 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown home to attend law classes at the University of Guyana (UG).
She recounted that around 20:30hrs, she left UG for home in a bus. The witness said that she stopped off in the vicinity of the East La Penitence Police Station and walked through Freeman Street in route to her home.
According to Nadia Paul, “I saw two young men dressed in short pants. One of (them) was wearing an orange jersey and the other a striped jersey. They were both wearing caps.” She recounted that she was unable to view their faces because the street was dark and because “they (the young men) were backing the church light.”
She related that one of the men grabbed her shoulder bag containing her texts books, cellular phone and other items. She further related that she and the man who grabbed her shoulder bag got into a scuffle during which the other man sprayed her in the face with a “burning substance” which burned her eyes, nose and mouth.
Nadia Paul recalled, “I went into a nearby yard and washed off my face. I saw several persons in that yard.” The sister told the court that she did not knew Griffith prior to the robbery and that she did not see him while she was washing off her face or anywhere around.
“I made my way home and told my mother what happened. Thereafter she and my brother, Franz Paul took me to the East La Penitence Police Station where I gave a statement,” the witness said.
A police patrol transported Nadia Paul and her mother home, the witness disclosed.
She added that she was asked by police ranks on the patrol to point out the area where the incident occurred and she did.
She further disclosed that while on her way home, another police patrol consisting of her brother, passed by. A few minutes later, Nadia Paul said that her mother accompanied her back to the robbery scene, where she saw police speaking to a young man who was shirtless. “I told the police that the (shirtless) young man based on his height and buid seemed to be one of the attackers.”
Under cross examination by Prosecutor Telford, Nadia Paul stated that her brother was dressed in khaki police uniform and that he was not armed with a gun.
Also testifying was Mervin Paul, the father of Franz Paul.
He told the court that on the day in question he was proceeding home when he was stopped by a villager who told him of an incident involving his daughter.
The man said that he walked in proximity of the robbery scene, where he spoke to a neighbor, but obtained no useful information.
When questioned by Attorney Yearwood, the father denied knowing “Alex Griffith” or ever hearing the name before, although he admitted that he is aware that his son is charged with an offence.
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Apr 19, 2024
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