The trial of Alvin Dunga, the man accused of killing another by shooting him with a bow and arrow back in 2005 during an argument over stolen gold pieces, began yesterday before Justice Roxane George.
Dunga, called ‘Arvin’ was previously arraigned on charges which stated that on May 14, 2005 at Five Star Backdam, Port Kaituma, North West District, he murdered Desmond Henry.
However, he had managed to elude the police for a period of five years before he was apprehended and subsequently charged with the murder in 2010.
Three police witnesses were called to give evidence yesterday during the trial including Detective Sergeant Emrick Winter who read the caution statement he took from the accused in 2010 after it was accepted as evidence by the judge.
The contents of the caution statement revealed that while Dunga had admitted to fatally shooting Henry with the bow and arrow, he claimed to have done it in self-defence.
In his explanation, Dunga had told Winter that on the day of the incident, he had confronted reputed wife over an issue with stolen pieces of gold. The accused went on to say that he attempted to walk away from the confrontation when Henry, who happened to be his wife’s father, intervened and threatened to kill him.
However, instead of the issue ending there, Dunga in his statement claimed that as he turned to walk away, Henry threw a pitchfork at him; when this failed, Dunga said, the man picked up a nearby axe and attempted to chop him.
This, Dunga said, caused him to use his arrow and bow to shoot the man in self-defence.
According to Winter, the accused gave the statement voluntarily in the presence of another police officer whom he identified and his aunt Irene La Rose.
Meanwhile, Police Constable Colin Rodney testified to having witnessed a post-mortem examination conducted on Henry by State Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh as well as his subsequent burial.
The case which is being presented by State attorneys Narrisa Leander and Tuanna Hardy is expected to continue today with the testimonies of several other witnesses.
