Four days of testimony completed in Asha James murder trial

Kenny George died from multiple cutlass wounds
Kenny George died from multiple cutlass wounds

The State continued to present its case to the jury as three more witnesses took the stand on day four of the Asha James murder trial on Friday May 27, 2016.

James is charged with the September 20, 2013, murder of Kenny “Bosco” George of Watten Waven.

On day four of the trial, Police Corporal Frank Commodore, testified that on the day in question, he was attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and about 7:30 pm received a report of a murder in Wotten Waven and left for the scene with other police officers.

According to Cpl Commodore, on arrival, he saw a crowd of people and went to an area near a wooden house and a flower garden and saw a body lying on the stomach. “It was that of a male individual and looked lifeless,” he said. He told the court that he also noticed a “black-handled” cutlass near the body. He said he also saw four wounds on the body and what appeared to be blood leading from where the body was, back to the main road. He stated that he then had a conversation with Julius George who identified the body as that of his son, Kenny George. Under cross examination he said the cutlass that he saw was “in close proximity to the body”.

Police constable Kenrick Charles was also a witness. He spoke about seeing the lifeless body in the flower garden on September 20, 2013. That evening he stated, that he went to the home of Veronica Joseph, where he met the accused standing in the yard and identified himself as a police officer to James and told him of the report he was investigating and that he could assist him and he was cautioned. He told the court that the accused (James) replied “Well Officer, mister looked for it, so he get it.”

Charles’s evidence was that he asked the accused what he used in committing the crime and he said “a cutlass” and he (Charles) asked him for it and was directed to a small concrete house in the yard. He looked in and saw a brown handled cutlass with dirt on the blade.   “That cutlass I used on mister” reported the accused as saying. He said he arrested James brought him to the CID and requested an explanation.

“I was walking to my home about 8:30pm, I saw Kenny and he then started to follow me and said to me he was going to take my life. I said F… you. I try to ignore him. He went for his cutlass I was faster than him. It happened in the main road and the scuffle went in the yard. My cutlass was on my side waist. I was in fear, I swung at him several time. After that I saw him on the floor, I ran home with my cutlass and his family and them came making threats at me.”

ASP Matthew Cuffy who did the electronic evidence with James in the presence of his lawyer, Geoffrey Letang, also testified. That interview was put on a DVD and replayed in court for the jury. In the 45 minute DVD interview, James spoke about problems that he had with the deceased before the incident and that he had made several reports to the police about it. He said “I send blows, he send blows, I was attacked, I was in fear for my life.”

When asked if he planned to kill Asha James he replied, “I will answer that in court.” Defense counsel Letang, had no questions for ASP Matthew Cuffy.

Before adjourning the case to Monday May 30, 2016, Justice Errol Thomas, the presiding Judge, again issued a stern warning to the jury about discussing the case with anyone. “This is a serious charge, don’t allow journalists or anyone to call you or tell you anything about it. If they do, call the police…it is very important that the accused gets a fair trial,” he said.

The State’s case is led by Sherma Dyrample assisted by Fernilla Felix and Kalita Benjamin – all State attorneys in the office of the DPP.  Geoffrey Letang is leading the case for the defense, assisted by Ann Riviere.

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6 Comments

  1. Otf
    May 30, 2016

    The boy was sick and tired. Tf.. Stupes look an old system. They waited too long and the boy had no choice. If somebody says they going to kill me i would do anything to defend myself. The system need to do better than that.

  2. forreal
    May 30, 2016

    well if the police have the records of complaint…the police should have given Kenny a serious warning,he might have still been alive today,sad story of policing

  3. Dominican passports
    May 30, 2016

    Well if thats the case I guess he really looked for it… :-?

  4. Bored at Work
    May 30, 2016

    Honestly, the law enforcement department in Dominica is extremely poor. Atleast the suspect was honest in his defense. It was to protect himself. If he really made reports against the Victim the police should have had that recorded and should easily be able to provide that to the court.

  5. pointemichel
    May 29, 2016

    if only police took people seriously look it have people threatening my life (i reported them to the police) now if I take matters into my own hands I would be wrong of course that is why people, arm yourselves, register your firearms and keep it on you, self defense is not murder

  6. say ca
    May 29, 2016

    Justice Errol said to the jurors if the press ask them about the case call the police?? You for real???? oh puhlease!!!!!!!! its not a crime for a journalist to speak to any juror,,it’s up to the juror to decide to speak or not…the laws states that jurors are not supposed to divulge any information to anyone in reference to an ongoing case.,,there is no law stating that if a journalist asks a juror a question about a case they will be arrested,,,

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