The trial of Nykose Gritten who is accused of the 2014 murder of moneychanger Wendell Liverpool began yesterday before Justice Navindra Singh and heard dramatic testimony about three men running down the road firing shots.
The indictment against Gritten alleges that between June 20 and June 23, 2014, he murdered Liverpool in the furtherance of a robbery.
Liverpool, also called ‘Spence’, of Lot 453 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, was said to have been out on the West Ruimveldt main road drinking with his brother and some friends when he was shot and robbed by gunmen on June 20, 2014. He succumbed to multiple gunshot injuries at the Georgetown Hospital three days after.
Six witnesses were called to testify during yesterday’s trial.
Fighting to hold back tears, Brian Aaron, a friend of the deceased recounted that on the night of the incident, he was heading home from his niece’s house when he encountered Liverpool at a shop in West Ruimveldt.
He explained that because they had not seen each other in a while, they decided to “smoke a joint” and catch up. Not long after, Aaron said that he saw three men running down the road, firing gunshots.
He noted that when Liverpool saw what was taking place, he got up from the bench on which they were sitting and “rushed the men” and ended up in a scuffle with his attackers.
Aaron further explained that during the scuffle one of the gunmen ordered Liverpool to “pass the (expletive) thing,” to which Liverpool responded by saying, “tek it nuh.”
The witnesses noted that within seconds of Liverpool’s responding to the demand, the scuffle escalated and he was shot before the men ran off in the direction of the West Ruimveldt Fire Station.
He went on to say that after the men ran off, vehicles began to converge on the scene, one of which was a police pick up. After relating what had transpired, Aaron said that with the assistance of a bystander he placed Liverpool in the tray of the vehicle which subsequently transported a wounded Liverpool to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC)
The man told the court that at that time, he had noticed blood coming from Liverpool’s mouth and chest.
Under cross-examination from defence counsel George Thomas, Aaron agreed that he did not recognise any of the gunmen since only their eyes were visible as their faces were covered.
A similar response was given by another witness Rayon Benjamin, when Thomas questioned whether she recognised any of the men who attacked Liverpool.
Benjamin, who is the proprietress of the shop where Liverpool and Aaron had been seated prior to the shooting also attested to having witnessed the attack.
Four police witnesses were also called to testify on behalf of the state during yesterday’s proceedings. Detective Leon George and Police Constable Duane McPherson attested to conducting a crime scene examination as well as photographing the scene. Detective Constable Jamal Fowler also testified to taking the police report and visiting the scene of the murder.
Additionally, Police Sergeant Troy Benn, an Immigration officer attached to the Central Passport Office told the court that he was instructed to submit a statement to the investigating officer about Gritten’s travel history.
The state’s case is being led by prosecutor Michael Shahoud in association with Orinthia Schmidt.
