Called on to lead a defence in the killing of Plaisance minibus driver Gavin Fiffee, accused Orin Jerrick yesterday relied on a statement he gave to the police in which he said the victim and others had attacked him with a cutlass.
The prosecution yesterday closed its case against Jerrick, who is on trial in the High Court in Georgetown for the murder of Fiffee.
The allegation against Jerrick is that on July 31, 2014, at the Plaisance bus park, located at the corner of Avenue of the Republic and Regent Street, in Georgetown, he murdered Fiffee.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Testifying yesterday was the prosecution’s final witness, Dr Nehaul Singh, who told the court that Fiffee died from perforation of the lung due to a stab wound.
Defence attorney Peter Hugh made a no-case submission but it was overruled by Justice Navindra Singh.
After being called upon to lead his defence, Jerrick opted to do so in unsworn testimony from the prisoner’s dock. He said he would be relying on a typewritten statement which he had given investigators.
Inspector of Police Philip Bowman had earlier testified about arresting the accused, who in the presence of his then attorney Pamela De Santos, handed him a typewritten statement, which he said was his statement in relation to the matter.
In the statement, which was read to the court, Jerrick said that he was at the bus park urinating on a bus when the driver and other persons attacked him with a cutlass.
Both the defence and prosecution presented their closing arguments to the jury.
It is the state’s case that on the day in question, Jerrick and Fiffee had an argument, during which the accused stabbed Fiffee to his chest.
The injured Fiffee was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he subsequently died.
The case will continue on Monday morning at 9 when Justice Singh will sum-up the evidence and hand it over to the jury for their deliberation and the likely return of a verdict.
The state’s case is being led by Prosecutor Narissa Leander in association with state attorneys Siand Dhurjon and Michael Shahoud. Meanwhile, the accused is represented by Hugh, in association with attorneys Nigel Hughes and Savannah Barnwell.
