The trial of Ralph Tyndall, Anthony DePaul Hope and Kevin O’Neil, the three men charged with the murder of Colleen Forrester, whose body was found dumped in a septic tank, began yesterday.
Tyndall, called ‘Nick,’ Hope, called ‘Papa,’ and O’Neil, who are jointly charged, have denied that between December 27, 2007 and January 6, 2008, they murdered Forrester at the Lot 55 William Street, Campbellville residence for which she was the caretaker.
In her opening address, State Counsel Shawnette Austin said that on December 27, Forrester left her West Ruimveldt home in the company of her granddaughter, to attend the Main Street Lime. After leaving that activity, the prosecutor said the two proceeded to the William Street address.
The court heard that upon their arrival, the woman sent her granddaughter downstairs to fetch water. Austin said it was the last time the young girl saw her grandmother.
Austin said that on January 6, 2008, a missing person’s report was filed by the granddaughter, in the company of her uncle, Clayton Forrester, after which the woman’s body was found wrapped in sheets in a septic tank.
Constable Alana Henry, who was the first witness to take the stand, recalled taking the missing person’s report on January 6, 2008, from Clayton and his niece, Nikita, while on duty at the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost.
Responding to questions under cross-examination from Tyndall’s attorney, Madan Kissoon, Henry said it had been reported to her that Forrester was last seen on December 27, 2007. Asked whether she had been told where Forrester was last seen, the witness said she could not recall.
Asked for the granddaughter’s age, Henry told Hope’s attorney, Melville Duke, that the girl appeared to have been between the ages of nine and ten, at the time the report was made.
Meanwhile, in response to questions from O’Neil’s lawyer, George Thomas, the constable said that she asked neither Clayton nor Nikita about Colleen’s physical or mental state, up to the point she was last seen.
The case continues this morning at 9:15.
A total of 15 witnesses are to be called by the state, which is represented by Austin, in association with prosecutors Diana Kaulesar and Stacy Goodings.
