Taxi driver’s murder
As the trial of Clifton Graham continues – who allegedly murdered taxi driver
Clifton Graham
Rolston Bernard Henry – Police Sergeant Radesh Persaud took the stand at Wednesday’s hearing. This was the first time that jurors were allowed to hear the witnesses’ statements after Justice Roxanne George admitted the evidence into the trial. Sergeant Persaud recalled that based on information he received, there was a confrontation between Curt Deen and Graham. Persaud stated that he interviewed Deen, who recounted the accusation that Graham was involved in the taxi driver’s murder.
At this point, Defence Counsel objected on grounds that Curt Deen’s statements are “hearsay” evidence. After continuous exchanges between the defence and the prosecution, Justice George allowed the witness to proceed, with expectation that Deen will testify at some point in the trial.
According to the witness’ evidence, Deen outlined what he overheard.”Last night, we hijack a car, took de driver to LBI… [Graham] hold down he hand and ‘Fineman’ cut he throat and kill he,” Deen was said to have heard.
After this disclosure, the Police rank stated that Graham was cautioned, arrested and read his rights as a prisoner. Persaud also denied that Graham was ever beaten, which the defence had placed excessive emphasis upon earlier in the trial. The Police Sergeant also noted that Graham obliged to a written statement, in the presence of another police witness, Sergeant Adams. This occurred between 16:20h and 16:35h.
“At no time did I use threats, force or inducement to obtain the said statement,” Sergeant Persaud claimed, noting that Graham accepted much culpability for the crime.
“Everything that Curt Deen said is true except I neva hold down de man for anybody cut out de man throat,” Graham was said to have expressed to Sergeant Persaud, whose hand-written statement was accepted as an exhibit. “I asked Graham to show me the scene of the crime and Graham pointed out the spot to me and told me: ‘this is where Gavin and Coolie kill de man’,” the Police rank told the jury. He added that the murder-accused showed him the area in which he had “dumped the bloody clothes” belonging to the driver. The court heard that it was at this point that the National Identification Card, insurance policy and taxi cards were found by the witness who retrieved and lodged the articles at a Police station. The jury was however informed that the Police witness never recovered the blood clothes. Meanwhile, the owner of the silver grey PKK 9036 car that the taxi driver operated, Sheldon Mc Donald and Henry’s then reputed wife Carmitta Collins also took the stand at Wednesday’s trial. McDonald’s evidence established that Henry worked for him. This witness stated that he had only contracted the driver just three weeks prior to his death. He also noted that the taxi driver kept his car and that he received $18,000 every Monday but did not see him on the day of his demise.
He added that upon Police showing him his car, sometime after, he noticed several missing items including a DVD player, four seat coverings, a six-inch speaker, spare wheel and jack. He was shown the seat coverings in court and identified the set. Under cross-examination, McDonald could not recall the day that he had identified the items.
Henry’s reputed wife, Carmitta Collins, noted that she saw Henry on the night of May 2 and was in the car and noted that everything was intact. After leaving him, she went to Stabroek Market, purchased some items and left for home via minibus. The jury was told that about 23:23h, she called “Raul” on his mobile phone but got no response. She made repeated calls after which one was eventually answered but “no one spoke”. Collins explained that she “heard a breeze and indecent language” over the phone which was then cut off. The case continues this morning.
