An unrepresented Skeffington Benjamin aimed to defend his innocence this morning when he was given the opportunity to cross examine several prosecution witnesses at a high court trial this morning.
Benjamin faces the charge of taking conveyance of a $35,000 fibre glass boat in Portsmouth last year from complainant Valentine Joseph.
According to the charge, Benjamin had taken conveyance of the 22 feet fibre-glass boat in Tan Tan on June 26 2009.
A second charge of malicious damage to the said boat was dropped against the accused.
Today, state lawyer Wayne Norde presented three of his four witnesses before Justice Birne Stephenson-Brooks who adjourned the matter till morning.
According to the complainant, who is from Belfast but resided in Tan Tan at the time of the incident, he had last seen his boat parked at about 11:45 pm the night before the incident.
He told the court that his close friend Clayton Thomas, who would normally have the key for the vessel for safety reasons, had the key at the time of the incident.
Joseph testified that the following morning, he found out that the boat was missing and went to the Portsmouth police station to make a report. He then went to different beaches on the island trying to locate it. He was not successful.
“Then I went to authorities to ask them permission to go to Marie Galante…. I went to Marie Galante I did not see my boat…On the 28th I got a call from Guadeloupe from Skeffington Benjamin… and he tell me it was he who take the boat and he told me the location of where he had parked it in Guadeloupe….” Joseph testified.
“He tell me is not he is them other fellers that tell him to do it. He didn’t do it on his own,” Joseph said.
Joseph said that a photograph of the boat was later emailed to from Guadeloupe which showed the boat broken up with no engine.
Joseph said that Benjamin had called him from Guadeloupe some time after the incident and told him that he was responsible for taking the boat.
Joseph later confronted Benjamin on the issue after he returned to Dominica resulting in a quarrel and fight.
Joseph assured the court that he never gave the accused the keys or permission to take his boat.
Under cross examination by the accused, several suggestions put to Joseph indicating that the he and the accused never knew each were denied.
According to Benjamin, the complainant spoke to him for the first time at prison following the incident.
However, Joseph told the court that he and the accused, though not friends, had regular dealings in the past.
He told the court that Benjamin had been on his boat several times in the past and he had given him money in the past also.
Clayton Thomas of Savanne Paille, the state’s second witness told the court that he had the key for the boat the morning after the incident and hadn’t given any one that key.
Investigating Officer Corporal Edwin Francis told the court of the accused statement to police following his arrest after the incident. This statement was read to the court. The document stated the accused confessed to taking the boat with some other men.
“ I went by the boat with them. I did not know whose boat it was at the time. I went on board the boat…We went up Purple Turtle and we pick up three other guys…When we reach Guadeloupe the engine stick in reverse. It couldn’t go forward…Everybody jump in the water and swim ashore. After we anchor the boat…Next morning when I come back to secure the boat the sea mash it up,” the accused statement read.
Romain Jno Baptiste, who witnessed the accused giving this statement, will testify tomorrow morning when court resumes.
Skele need to be looked up for good…the man not trying to change his life at all
big up skele,they ca do nothing with u soldier
accomplices not in court because when police confronted them with accused he the accused stated he didnt know them
This is very confusing. Why are the accomplices not on trial?
send him jail