The trial of the men accused of killing 72-year-old Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris continued yesterday and the caution statement of one of the accused revealed a plot to kill the woman over a land dispute she was engaged in.
The joint charge against Orwin Hinds, Kevin October, Cleon Hinds and Roy Jacobs states that on June 30, 2011, they murdered Fiedtkou-Parris in what was suspected to be a contract killing.
Meanwhile, as the trial continued yesterday, the caution statement of Cleon Hinds revealed that he had knowledge of the plot to kill Fiedtkou-Parris after Jacobs allegedly went to him requesting a gun to carry out the murder. However, according to Cleon’s statement, supplying the gun was the only part he played, a task that saw him being allegedly rewarded with $80,000.
According to the statement which was read in open court, Jacobs allegedly told Cleon, “that a man pay them a big money fuh throw down a big lady on Robb Street next to ‘Trans’.”
“Me ask he wah he wan kill the lady fuh and he tell me that de man who a pay de money get wan land dispute over the same land wah she ah live pon. Me talk to me brother Orwin and we decide to give dem ah ole gun fuh get in pon de business,” the statement added.
As a result, Cleon reportedly handed over the gun to somebody who was identified in the caution statement as ‘Dutchie’ at the South [bus] park. This was allegedly done in the presence of his brother and co-accused Orwin Hinds, who later left with the men to go “pon de business,” while he waited at the park.
“When dem come back, me meet them at ‘black boy’ house. And dem tell me muss pass round and see wah going on. Me drive round and when me near reach de house next to ‘Trans’, me see nuff police and me figure the lady dead. Me buddy give me back the gun and we gan home from ‘black boy’ house. A couple days after, Roy give me $80,000 to share between me and Orwin and we divide the money,” Cleon said in his caution statement.
However, a few days after the murder was committed, the brothers reportedly decided to dump the gun out of fear of the police finding them with it.
Cleon said, “The police start to investigate and we didn’t want the police to catch we with it. Orwin tek de gun and gan in the bush with it and me nah know what he do with it.”
In the end, Cleon expressed remorse for what happened to Fiedtkou-Parris, “Ah really sarry fuh de lady, real thing. I don’t even know how I get meself caught up in this,” he said.
In addition to the caution statement being tendered as evidence, arresting officer, Detective Assistant Superintendent, Mitchel Caesar was also called as a witness for the prosecution.
In his evidence-in- Chief, Caesar related that Cleon Hinds, October and Jacobs were arrested as a result of information he received from an “outside source.”
He explained that on October 29, 2011, he, along with a party of police officers headed to Albouystown where Jacobs was contacted and told of the allegation. Caesar told the court that after cautioning the man, he denied killing the woman.
According to Caesar, two days after arresting Jacobs, he proceeded to the Camp Street prison with an order to uplift October and subsequently escorted him to the Criminal Investigation Department, Eve Leary. Later that day, Caesar said that he headed a party of police to the Stabroek Market area where contact was made with Cleon Hinds. He too denied the allegation when it was put forward to him, and was taken to CID headquarters, the detective noted.
Also called to testify was Detective Sergeant, Noel Seabra who testified to taking a caution statement from Jacobs. Seabra noted that his interaction with Jacobs began at CID where he conducted an interview with the accused. It was during the course of the interview, that he said he put forward the allegation of murder to Jacobs, who in response said, “I get the man fuh do the work but I didn’t do anything.”
However, before State Attorney Teshanna James-Lake could make her application to have the caution statement tendered as evidence, Jacobs’ lawyer, Maxwell McKay requested a voir dire be conducted into the caution statement.
The case is set to be called again today at the High Court in Georgetown, before Justice Singh and a 12-member jury.
Fiedtkou-Parris was shot at her 42 Robb Street, Georgetown home. The woman was taken to the Georgetown hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after.
According to prosecutor Teshanna James-Lake in her opening address on Monday, police investigations later led to the accused being arrested and charged.
Orwin Hinds, October, Cleon Hinds and Jacobs are represented by attorneys-at-law George Thomas, Moti Singh, Raymon Ali and McKay, respectively.
