At the trial of Clifton Graham, who is accused of the 2009 murder of taxi driver Rolston Bernard Henry, Detective Roland Beharry yesterday recalled going to the scene where the deceased’s battered body had been found.
Graham is on trial before Justice Roxane George and a 12-member jury for allegedly murdering Henry between May 2 and May 3, 2009 at La Bonne Intention (LBI).
In his testimony, Detective Beharry told the court that he was on duty at the Beterverwagting Police Station on May 3, 2009 when he received certain information, as a result of which he immediately went to Onion Field, La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara (ECD).
The detective said that upon his arrival, he observed a crowd gathered aback Onion Field, some 500 feet east of the main gate of the LBI Sugar Estate.
He said that as he neared the crowd, he observed the body of the deceased lying in a track between some bushes.
The court then heard from the detective that after examining the body, he observed several wounds—a gaping one to the throat about 2 1/2 inches wide and 6 to 7- inches long one, about seven inches below the right ear, and another to the left side of his back.
Beharry said that Henry’s mouth was tied with a piece of cloth, which was fastened at the back of his head. The court heard further that both of the deceased’s hands were tied tightly with a piece of electrical cord behind his back.
The witness said that Henry’s body also bore a wound from which a piece of shiny metal, which he described as resembling a bicycle spoke, was protruding. He noted that the spoke-like implement was about 6 to 7 inches in length.
Detective Beharry said also that Henry’s abdomen, stomach and penis appeared burnt. He said that the body was clad in only a pair of blue briefs.
Beharry said that he caused another detective to photograph the scene and he questioned several persons before escorting Henry’s remains to the Lyken Funeral Home.
The detective also testified to uplifting a car deck and four car seat coverings from the Station Sergeant at the Sparendaam Police Station and which he showed to Sheldon McDonald, who positively identified them as being his.
Beharry informed the court that McDonald is the owner of the car that Henry operated as a taxi.
The witness said that on a subsequent date he also collected from the Station Sergeant a national identification card which belonged to Henry as well as a Nalico insurance policy in favour of the vehicle.
Of the items, the car seat coverings and the ID card were tendered and admitted into evidence. Beharry said that he made checks for the car deck and insurance policy in the property room at the Sparendaam Police station where they were lodged, but they could not be found.
Asked under cross-examination by defence attorney Maxwell McKay if he searched the area where the body was found for anything of evidential value, Beharry answered in the affirmative and stated that he assisted in this regard along with other policemen.
When asked, he told counsel that the search was conducted within a close range to where the body was found. He told the lawyer that he made searches about 15 feet away, but could not say in terms of distance how far the others had searched. “Some went further than some,” he said.
Asked how far away from the body the crowd that had gathered was standing, Beharry told McKay about 3 to 4 feet. When asked, the witness told counsel that the scene would not have been contaminated because the crowd had been standing so close to the body.
The witness answered the attorney in the affirmative when asked if the crowd was dispersed when the body was being removed from the scene. He noted that at that point, those who had gathered were ordered to retreat about 15 feet away.
The court returned to the main trial yesterday morning after conducting a voir dire for a number of days to determine the admissibility of oral and written statements that the accused is alleged to have made to the police.
After handing down a detailed judgement, Justice George ruled that she was satisfied that Graham had freely and voluntarily given the statements, which will be admitted into evidence.
The trial, which is being heard at the High Court in Georgetown, continues this morning at 9.
