Man accused of killing fiancée’s estranged husband freed

The High Court trial of Aniki Jones, who was accused of killing the estranged husband of his fiancée, was brought to end on Tuesday after presiding Judge Nareshwar Harnanan upheld the defence’s no-case submission. As such, Jones was allowed to walk free into the arms of his relatives, who were overjoyed to have

him released.

Justice Harnanan upheld the defence’s contention on the grounds that insufficient evidence was provided by the Prosecution to prove that Jones inflicted the wounds which led to the death of Carl Garnett, who was killed on the night he had a violent altercation with Jones. After he was released, Jones told Guyana Times that he was indeed happy to be a free man and indicated that the first thing he would have done after arriving home is greet his mother.

It was late last week that the prosecution had closed it case, which was presented by State Counsels Siand Dhurjon, Shawnette Austin and Lisa Cave. Jones had pleaded not guilty to the offence, which occurred on December 15, 2013. Reports were that Garnett had left the marital home and moved on with life with another woman but he was angered after his estranged wife started a new relationship with Jones.

According to the facts presented to the court, the deceased man had called the

Jones’ home to speak with his child that he shared with his estranged wife, Rhonda Garnett. After some angry telephone conversations, Carl Garnett armed himself with a cutlass and confronted Jones at his home in Lamaha Springs, Georgetown. A confrontation ensued and Garnett ended up dead while Jones was injured. Certain prior events that led up to the fatal altercation were disallowed from being entered into evidence on the grounds that its inclusion would have been prejudicial.

Ameena Garnett, daughter of Carl Garnett had testified last week that she had assisted her mother in an attempt to stop the two men from fighting and injuring each other. Ameena Garnett, who was just 18 at the time of the incident, had testified that she had known Jones from around March or April of 2013. She had also told the court that Jones had moved in with her mother, herself and other siblings around June or July of that year.

The witness had said she saw Jones and her father, Carl, engaged in a scuffle on the ground. It was then that she helped her mother to separate them. After they broke free, the young lady testified that she saw Aniki Jones with blood on his head, feet and hands but did not notice any injuries on her father. She said her father was in a knelt position braced to a cupboard. Ameena Garnett noted that she put him to lie on his back where she discovered “a low pulse”.

It was under cross-examination by Defence Counsel that the young lady had indicated that the accused, Jones, was not armed at the time she saw him. At Tuesday’s ruling, Justice Harnanan suggested that based on the evidence provided, it would have been speculative to say that Jones inflicted the fatal injuries. Defence Counsel Mark Conway also represented Jones. (Shemuel Fanfair)