Jason De Florimonte murder PI… Prosecution having difficulties getting civilian witnesses to attend court

Nov 15, 2018 News 0

Murder accused: Erwin Bacchus

Special Prosecutor Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd has disclosed that he is having difficulties getting two civilians, who are witnesses in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of Jason De Florimonte, to attend court.
Yesterday, Prosecutor Todd told Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, before whom the PI is being conducted, of his efforts in locating the witnesses, the last being that summonses were sent to their last known addresses.
Nevertheless, the lawyer indicated that the evidence of the two witnesses is not of importance to the case, and that he is prepared to close after calling six police witnesses to the stand. Todd was unable to call any of the police witness when the matter continued yesterday since, according to him, some of them are still inlying, as a result of Local Government Elections duties.
Among other reasons, the Prosecutor said that one of the ranks is in Bartica, while others are performing supervisory roles at police stations.
Owner of the Tourist Villa Hotel, Erwin Bacchus, 45, is currently on remand for the murder of De Florimonte, which occurred on August 4.
Apart from this, two Police Constables who assisted with investigations into the matter were called to testify. Magistrate Latchman averaged that the court will take about three days to complete taking the evidence of the police witnesses. The matter continues this morning and then again on Monday, November 19.
Jason De Florimonte, 30, of 96 Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, was shot several times to his chest after he allegedly attacked Bacchus with a rolling pin and knife. Lawyers representing Bacchus are Attorneys-at-Law Glenn Hanoman and Nigel Hughes.
Bacchus was initially charged with manslaughter in relation to the unlawful killing of De Florimonte and released on $1.5M bail. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) later upgraded the charge to murder.