Porkknocker says acted in self-defence, alleges attempted rape

Mabura Businessman’s murder

Jahryl Reid, 20, a porkknocker who is on trial for the April 2014 murder of Mabura businessman Colin McLean, who he allegedly bludgeoned to death after a row, will know his fate today.

Justice Jo-Ann Barlow made this decision late last week after Prosecutor Siand Dhurjon and Defence Counsel Madan Kissoon presented their closing arguments.

The murder-accused who took the stand on Thursday last did not deny that he was responsible for the businessman’s death. He however entered a self-defence claim that at the time of their scuffle, the man was trying to “rape” him. The father of one, when cross-examined by Prosecutor Dhurjon, explained that the late McLean, who was much bigger in stature, pinned him down but he managed “to wiggle out” from his grip.

“Afterwards he was pushing me but I manage to get away,” the young man noted.

Despite Reid’s self-defence claims, the prosecution sought to establish guilt on grounds that the murder-accused stole money from the businessman, and later hid the murder weapon, all on the night in question.

“I threw (the wood) in de grass,” Reid told the court.

“To hide it.” the Prosecutor retorted.

However, Reid who maintained his composure stressed: “I just throw it in de grass.”

Under intense grilling by the Prosecutor, the murder-accused further explained that he also threw away his pants which was soaked with the businessman’s blood and he also admitted that everything else, apart from the money he had taken, was discarded.

“Mr Reid you are a storyteller…[your] whole story is a lie,” Dhurjon posited, to which the defendant responded in the negative.

Meanwhile, Defence Counsel Kissoon reminded the jury that there was a strong scent of alcohol on the deceased, suggesting that the businessman was heavily intoxicated.

Kissoon also reminded jurors that the dead man had also provided Reid with alcohol before having him stay over.

“No one questioned why a big man had an 18 year old boy in his bed,” Kissoon queried.

Meanwhile, the Prosecution in its closing statements noted that the rape accusation on the day in question was a “phony concoction to justify the murder” of McLean. Dhurjon referenced one witness who disclosed that the young man would visit the businessman’s home “more than once per week”.

“Even if there was no relationship, Reid kept coming back time after time…he must claim self-defence because the crime is unforgivable,” Dhurjon stated as he rested the State’s case.

According to reports that surfaced when the crime occurred two years ago, Reid and McLean had a heated exchange at Mabura, Upper Demerara River, after which the businessman was dealt several lashes across the head with a wood.

McLean had died after he received treatment at the Mackenzie Hospital Complex. A post-mortem examination had revealed that he died as a result of blunt trauma to the head.