Trial against “Pretty Boy”, “Dangles” commences

2015 Tucville murder

By Lakhram Bhagarat

Edward Skeete and Nabadingi Gobin will soon know their fates as a 12-member jury was impanelled before Justice Navindra Singh on Wednesday and the commencement of trial into the 2015 murder of Ryan Clementson.
Skeete, called “Pretty Boy”, a 28-year-old mason of 309 Independence Boulevard, Georgetown; and Gobin, called “Dangles”, a 32-year-old taxi driver of 1049 Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, is accused of murdering 25-year-old Clementson of Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara between July 14 and 24, 2015 at Tucville.
The duo is accused of opening fire on Clementson and his friend Ayodele Solomon on July 14, 2015, near the Turning Point Snackette in Tucville. Clementson, who had been shot in his thigh, succumbed almost two weeks later from cardiac arrest following surgery.
On August 14, 2015, the duo was jointly charged for murder and almost one year later, Magistrate Fabayo Azore committed them to stand trial since a prima facie case was made out against them.
At the commencement of the trail, Skeete and Gobin – represented by Attorneys Nigel Hughes, Mark Waldron and Keoma Griffith – denied the charges levelled against them.
Prosecutor Narissa Leander is leading the State’s case in association with Tiffini Lyken and Abigail Gibbs.
Taking the stand was Lance Corporal Colwyn Major, who was one of the first responders. He told the court that he received information of the shooting at around 21:10h on the night of July 14, 2015, and joined a vehicle along with approximately seven other law enforcement ranks. He explained that when he arrived at the scene, he observed the area was well lit and Clementson was partially submerged in the nearby trench in what he described as an attempt to hide. Major added that along with public-spirited persons, the injured man was pulled from the trench and it was observed that he was bleeding from the right thigh while only wearing a pair of black boxers.
The court heard that Major then placed Clementson into the tray of the Police vehicle and escorted him to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) where a male doctor tended to him. The Policeman further told the court that while at the hospital, he encountered Solomon who was receiving treatment for the gunshot wound to his right shoulder. He then questioned Solomon about the incident and then returned to the scene where he attempted to gather evidenced but was unsuccessful.
While under cross-examination by Attorney Hughes, Major related that when he arrived at the scene there were approximately 80 persons looking in the direction of the western end of the Tucville Bridge. He also stated that under the bridge was dark and only discovered Clementson after several calls. When asked how he determined that Clementson had a gunshot wound, the Policeman related that he observed a circular opening on the man’s right thigh.
Major said that although there was a large crowd at the scene he feels it was not contaminated and when further pressed he added that he is still unaware as to where exactly the shooting occurred. In addition, he stated that he was not informed of any live rounds or spent shells being recovered at the scene.
The Policeman further related that a statement was taken from Solomon and relatives of the dead man, but when asked by Attorney Waldron when Solomon’s statement was taken, Major related that despite coming into contact with the man on the night of July 14, he did not take a statement from him until July 29.
Meanwhile, Detective Corporal Carlton Rockliffe said at the time of the incident, he was stationed at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eve Leary as a Crime Scene Examiner and was summoned to the Tucville Bridge area. He told the ourt that he took his crime scene kit and upon arriving at the scene at around 22:30h, he was greeted by Lance Corporal Major and immediately commenced his examination of the scene.
Rockliffe said he recovered one spent shell and two live rounds at the scene, which he placed into evidence and sent for forensic examination on July 22, 2015.
While being cross-examined by Attorney Waldron, the Policeman related that he did not see it necessary to test the recovered spent shell and ammunition for fingerprints.
The ballistics examiner, retired Inspector Eon Jackson, also took the stand and testified that the evidence bag contained one 9mm live round, one 9mm spent shell and on 9mm dud round. He explained that the dud round was fired from the firearm but was not activated because it may have expired.
The court heard that Detective Constable, Akeem Lewis, would have taken a statement from Clementson on July 17 at the GPHC. He related to the court, that Clementson provided him with the names of three men who inflicted the wound while asking to see his relatives since he could see his death coming.
The trial will continue on Tuesday, with Lewis continuing his testimony.