The murder trial of Kevin Washington and Dennecia Halley, the duo accused of murdering of seaman Antonio Isles in 2013 ended abruptly yesterday, owing to a lack of evidence.
In a trial which began on Monday before Justice Navindra Singh, the court heard that Washington and Halley allegedly murdered Isles between March 1 and 3, 2013 at Pike Street, Kitty.
However, after hearing evidence from more than five witnesses, the jury was excused from the courtroom to facilitate a voir dire (trial within a trial). Upon the completion of the voir dire, the jury returned and was instructed by Justice Singh to return a formal verdict of not guilty in favour of both accused. The decision was said to have been made in the light of insufficient evidence available to continue the trial.
On Thursday, the same jury had heard the evidence of Kelvin De Peazer, a friend of the deceased.
In his evidence-in-chief, he recounted meeting Isles at a Pike Street shop where they indulged in a drink just minutes before he was beaten by a group of children armed with pieces of wood.
He explained that after leaving the shop, he was heading in the direction of Alexander Street, Kitty when the owner of the shop called out to him to notify him of the incident.
“I turn around and saw a whole set of kids with 2x4s beating on Antonio… I ran towards them and some of the kids run in the yard while two of them lef standing outside,” De Peazer had said.
He added that Isles was lying on the ground and some of the children returned with a bucket of water and threw it on his friend.
“I ask them why they beating on this guy… and one of them turn and say why I don’t mind my own business, how he [Isles] go to rob his mother,” De Peazer related.
When asked if he knew the person who had made the remark, De Peazer replied in the affirmative before pointing out Halley, the second accused.
Additionally, he identified Halley and Washing-ton as the two who had remained on the road when the others ran inside the yard for the bucket of water. He said they seemed to be in “some kinda rage” at that particular time.
The man went on to explain that he picked up Isles and took him to the Kitty Police Station where he was subsequently placed in a taxi and sent to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
However, De Peazer was unable to continue his evidence after suffering a seizure that resulted in him being taken to the hospital for treatment.
The court had also heard the evidence of Police Corporal Shellon Edwards, who attested to arresting Halley, who was 15 years old at that time, and taking an oral statement from her in which she maintained her innocence in the matter.
According to Edwards, Halley said, “Officer, all wah me guh tell yuh, me ain’t murder nobody. I was in meh house watching African Moods and meh hear people makin’ noise. Me in know nothing bout no murder.”
The state’s case was presented by Prosecutors Michael Shahoud and Orinthia Schmidt, while Washington and Halley were represented by attorneys Peter Hugh and Dexter Todd respectively.
In the days following the incident, police investigations had revealed that Isles was beaten by a group of persons at Pike Street on March 1, 2013. He was admitted to the George-town Public Hospital and later succumbed to his injuries. An autopsy revealed that he died as a result of a fractured skull.
