Justice Navindra Singh yesterday overruled the no-case submission that was made by the defence in the Calvin Bailey murder trial in the High Court.
Bailey is on trial for the murder of 18 month-old, Shaquan Nero, who was mortally injured after Bailey allegedly attacked the child’s mother, Bernadette Nero, who was his partner at the time.
State prosecutors, Konyo Thompson and Dhanika Singh, had presented an uncle of the woman who told the court that he saw the accused stabbing the child and his mother. The incident occurred on April 4, 2007 at Amelia’s Ward, Linden.
The uncle, Alfred Carrington, had told the court in his evidence that Nero was at his home with her son but left and went to her cousin’s house which is located next door to his home. While she was there, Carrington said he heard a loud sound which caused him to investigate. It was while he was heading over to the cousin’s house he saw Bailey on the verandah of the house and the girls screaming. Carrington said he picked up a stick and asked Bailey to remove from the premises but Bailey said he was not removing as he had to speak with Nero.
Nero, who was inside, then exited the house with a cup of hot water and Carrington said he got between her and Bailey thereby preventing her from throwing it on him. Carrington also said that he told Nero cousin’s to call the police and it was only then that Bailey left the premises.
Carrington recalled that later that night he was awakened by a loud noise coming from his yard. He said “I heard somebody saying `uncle Alfred! uncle Alfred open the door!’” The man said he recognized the voice as Bernadette’s and went and opened the door.
When he opened the door Bernadette was standing on the landing of the step with her son Shaquan in her hands and Bailey was on top of her with an instrument in his hand stabbing her. As Bailey stabbed Nero, blood began to gush from the baby’s neck. Carrington also told the court that he was shocked at what he was seeing so he could not have reacted immediately and by the time he could Bailey had already run down the stairs and escaped.
Nero was hospitalized after the incident but her son died. She has since migrated and has not returned to give evidence in the trial.
Bailey is expected to lead his defence on Thursday when the case will continue.
