Security guard claims self-defence in fisherman’s killing

– to know fate Wednesday

Marlon Callender, who has been on trial for murder for the past several days, led his defence before a 12-member jury at the Demerara High Court on Monday, professing that he acted in self-defence when fisherman Envil Pollard was killed.
Callender made his claims from the prisoner’s dock via an unsworn statement to the court, which meant that he could not be questioned or cross-examined by the prosecution.

The State is contending that the accused man, who was a security guard attached to Pritipaul Singh Investments Inc, murdered Pollard on January 29, 2015 at the Pritipaul Wharf at Mc Doom, Greater Georgetown. According to reports, the shooting occurred following a confrontation between the two men, during which Pollard allegedly had a knife in his hand. It was also alleged that the deceased man met his demise while fishing in the vicinity.
However, in Callender’s version of events, on the day in question, he received two radio messages from another security officer. Thereafter, he learnt that Pollard was under the wharf and the court heard that Pollard refused to move despite repeated warnings. Callender then told the jury that he then fired a warning shot, but the fisherman still refused to remove and came onto the wharf, behaving in a disorderly manner.

“He started to curse me and I became afraid for my life and I asked him to move off the wharf; he made a few steps and I fired a shot which resulted in him being shot,” Callender claimed.
“All I was trying to do was protect my self – performing the duty that was given to me. I am sorry for the loss of the deceased’s life,” he added.
The accused man, who then took his seat, bowed his head and appeared to be wiping tears from his eyes, but he never allowed his face to be seen at that point. Despite his emotional display, State Prosecutor Lisa Cave in her closing address disputed Callender’s account of the events that transpired that day, saying that the evidence presented shows that the fisherman never came onto the wharf.
The State Counsel further argued that Callender intentionally shot Pollard. The defendant’s attorney, Lammy Singh also presented closing arguments.
The matter was adjourned to Wednesday when presiding Judge Sandhill Kissoon will sum up the matter and put it to the jury for deliberation.