A police witness yesterday testified that murder accused Justin Felix, who is charged with killing a fellow Lindener in 2008, admitted to him that his gun had accidentally went off and killed the other man.
Justin Felix of Oronoque Drive, Retrieve, Linden, is standing trial in the High Court before Justice Franklyn Holder and a 12-member jury for the murder of Paul Austin. It is alleged that he murdered Austin, on July 13, 2008, at the Kara Kara Bridge in Mackenzie.
Assistant Superinten-dent of Police Julius Wright told the court that he went to the Mackenzie Police Station and saw Felix in the lockups. He said he observed spots of blood on his pants.
Wright stated that he asked to have a private word with the detained man and it was during the encounter that Felix told him that he wanted to tell the truth. He said Felix disclosed that he was having an argument with Austin about “his share” of stuff that was stolen and when the man refused to give him, he reached in his bag and pulled out a gun.
Wright said Felix denied pulling the trigger and only recalled the gun going off on its own. He said Felix stated that he did not know how it happened.
Defence attorney Glenn Hanoman, during cross-examination, asked why he had not taken a statement from Felix, who had gone to the station to make a report about a shooting. Hanoman stated that Felix made a report that he and Austin were together when two men approached on bicycles and one shot at Austin. “You didn’t want to take that statement in writing from him reflecting that story, did you?” Hanoman questioned.
Wright, however, said that while he did not take that initial statement, he did take the report and an investigation was launched.
Wright said Felix became a suspect in the murder one day after he spoke with him as he “felt that he had some involvement” in the incident, after he noticed his bloodstained pants.
Explaining the bloodstains, Hanoman said it was Felix who carried Austin to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. But Wright stated that Felix gave no indication of that.
The trial continues today.
