Victim died from stab wound to the neck – pathologist

Christmas Day stabbing

The High Court trial of vendor Mark Greaves commenced before Justice Navindra Singh and the 12-member jury on Wednesday following the defendant denying the State’s contention that he murdered Owen Fredericks on December 25, 2015 at James Street Albouystown, Georgetown. The Prosecution called Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Brijmohan as its first witness who testified that when he conducted the post-mortem examination on December 30, 2015 at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) Mortuary, he observed a 1.8 centimetre stab wound to the upper left neck, which was some seven centimetres from the

earlobe.
Dr Brijmohan concluded that the death was unnatural and noted the instrument used was sharp and could have been a knife or a cutlass. He gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage via a cut to the artery from stab wound. The jury was told that Fredericks would have suffered “extensive” blood loss.
Former Police Constable Xavier Vasconselos, who now lives in Miami, Florida, United States, testified via Skype that he was performing duties at the Ruimveldt Police Station on December 25, 2015, when about 19:00h, he escorted the accused, Greaves, to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where the defendant was examined by a doctor. The Police witness said a medical report was handed over to him.
Vasconselos noted that after this, they went to the Golden Grove Police Station where Greaves was placed into custody. The Policeman claimed that the accused was not injured along the way, nor was the transporting vehicle involved in any accident.
The said medical report was tendered into evidence after the Judge overruled the prosecution’s objection which contended that the exhibit did not form part of its case. Under cross-examination by the defendant’s lawyer, George Thomas, Vasconselos indicated the document saying that the deceased was stabbed to the chest.
During the afternoon session, Police Inspector Herbert Henry told the court that he administered the caution statement of the accused on December 26, 2015 in the presence of Deputy Superintendent Kingston who was present and signed as a witness. Earlier on, Police Constable Leslie Williams told the 12-member jury that he was on duty at Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters on the day in question when at 16:45h a request was made for a Police photographer. He noted that he visited the scene at James Street and took several photographs which showed suspected blood stains. Williams recalled that the said photographs were tendered and marked as evidence at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on March 9, 2016.
When State Prosecutor Abigail Gibbs presented the opening address, she indicated that the deceased did odd jobs and noted that the Fredericks and Greaves had a verbal exchange which, according to her, led to the stabbing. Gibbs told the jury that the deceased died as a result of injuries. It was reported that Fredericks was pronounced dead at the GPHC.
Prosecutor Shawnette Austin is also appearing for the State while Attorney Nekeisha Persaud is assisting the Defence. The trial continues before Justice Singh. (Shemuel Fanfair)