BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE near two-week trial of former Defence Force soldier Louis Richards came to an end yesterday (Oct. 21) when he was unanimously convicted of both counts on his indictment.
The prosecution was successful in proving that on the night of August 3, 2007, Richards wounded Addren ‘Ado’ Searles and Jevon ‘Herbie’ Woodley with intent to do them grievous bodily harm. The incidents took place in Old Road sometime after 8:00 in the evening.
Richards, according to prosecution witnesses, was sitting on a bench in proximity to 2Pac Bar in Old Road when shots rang out forcing persons there to seek cover. They further explain that Richards was shot in the buttock and after emerging from his place of refuge, he shot an unarmed Searles who was coming from a westerly direction.
Other prosecution witnesses explained that Woodley was shot by Richards while on the eastern side of Old Road and the former soldier pursued him while he was running in the direction of the Old Road Police Station.
Richards took the stand during the trial and told the court that after hearing the first shot while sitting in proximity to 2Pac bar, he looked up into an alley – which is the direction from where the shots came – and saw Searles and Woodley with firearms in their hands.
He further explained that after vacating the area where he sought refuge, he saw Searles approaching with a gun in his hand from the direction from which the shots came. He explained that that was when he shot at him.
Richards, according to his evidence, after receiving assistance from two fellow Defence Force soldiers, walked with them to the eastern side of Old Road where they met Woodley. He explained that he saw Woodley hoisting his shirt as if to remove a weapon from his clothing and in defence he fired at shot at him.
Late yesterday morning – having listened to closing arguments from the prosecution and defence counsel Jason Hamilton as well as Justice Francis Belle’s summation – the jury retired for deliberations and emerged approximately three hours later.
They all found that Richards is guilty of committing both offences. However, his sentencing is not scheduled to take place until December 1, 2009.
About one year ago (during the October 2008 Criminal Assizes), Richards was tried for these offences along with the murder of Clyde Williams which took place on the same night.
He was exonerated on the murder charge but was convicted of manslaughter and subsequently sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. The then jury could not decide on his innocence or guilt relative to Searles and Woodley, thus those matters were traversed for future hearing.
