Accused, deceased had “fine scuffle” – Police witness

A jury was on Tuesday empanelled before High Court Judge Navindra Singh to hear the murder trial of Kelvin Chishlom, who has denied the May 1, 2014 murder of Nigel Lawson, who was fatally stabbed at Quamina Street, Georgetown.
Chishlom pleaded not guilty when the charge was read by Prosecutor Tiffini Lyken at Tuesday’s arraignment.

Police Lance Corporal Quinn Sandy testified that he was performing duties on the day in question when he was summoned to the scene via radio set. He recalled seeing Lawson’s motionless body lying on the southern grass parapet on the road. Sandy told the 12-member mixed jury that he later met the accused, who told him that the now deceased man had gone into his yard and stolen his cellphone and I-pod. The Policeman told the jury that Chishlom told him that the two men had a “fine scuffle”. Sandy noted that, based on instructions, the accused man was arrested, taken back to the crime scene, and handed over to Policeman “Arjune”; and was later escorted to the Brickdam Police Station and placed in custody.
The witness indicated that while there, Chishlom requested a telephone call, which was granted.
Also testifying before Justice Singh and the jury was former Police Constable Delicia Browne. The former policewoman told the jury that Lawson was clad in blue-grey three-quarter pants and grey slippers. She said that after Constable Grant was taking photographs of the crime scene, she observed a red jersey soaked in a reddish substance that appeared to be blood. She noted that she later examined the man’s body and noticed that there was a wound to the left side chest and that his arm appeared to be broken.
Lawson’s relative, Petal Jeffery, testified that Lawson had lived at Lot 198 Camp Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown. Jeffery, who attended the post-mortem examination, also noted that Lawson was buried on May 6, 2014.
State Counsels Narissa Leander and Abigail Gibbs are assisting the Prosecution’s case, while Chishlom is being represented by Defence Counsels Hewley Griffith and Compton Richardson. A total of nine witnesses are expected to testify over the next few days. The case continues before Justice Singh today.