Judge to Give Summary in Clarissa Gumbs Matter; Verdict Expected Today
By Suelika N. Buchanan
 |
|
Clarissa Gumbs leaving the court room yesterday, Wed. Oct. 3. SKNVibes.com photo/Suelika N. Buchanan
|
(Basseterre; St. Kitts): His Lordship Francis Belle will deliver the summary of the case involving Clarissa Gumbs of Dieppe Bay, this morning Thursday, Oct. 4.
Gumbs was charged with Larceny in Dwelling House which occurred on Feb. 7, 2005. The house belongs to Selwyn Pringle a Craft Vendor who lives at the back of Sunrise Bakery in Dieppe Bay. The prosecution alleges that Gumbs entered Pringle’s home and stole US$3, 0000.00.
Four witnesses testified yesterday, including three on behalf of the prosecution’s case and one called by the defense.
Gumbs who does not have a lawyer is representing himself.
Pringle testified in court and said that on Feb. 7, 2005, he was at Conan Shop where he bought a drink for himself and drinks for five others including the accused.
He said that he had US$3, 0000 in his pocket along with EC$536.00 and also some more Eastern Caribbean money in his wallet.
After he left the bar, he said he went home and went to sleep.
While he was on the floor sleeping his fiancée’ woke him and told him something.~~Adz:Right~~
When he got up he said he saw someone from the back running down the path from his home with his pant in his hands. He then made a police report.
He also said that he knows the accused from since he was a baby.
In his cross examination, Gumbs asked Pringle if he was an alcoholic where Pringle replied, “no” he drinks occasionally.
Gumbs also told Pringle that he did not buy him any drink at the shop because he was not there.
“I know it was you, I know you from since a small, I ain’t stupid,” Pringle responded.
The next witness called in to testify by the Prosecution was Jeanette Mitchell, Pringle’s fiancée’.
She also said that she knew the accused from since he was a child.
She said that she arrived at her boyfriend’s home on the Sunday, at around 9 p.m. and cooked some rice.
~~Adz:Left~~After they ate along with a pet monkey they fell asleep on the floor in the bedroom. Mitchell said that before they fell asleep she took off her fiancée’s pant.
In her testimony she said that she was awakened by the movement of the monkey and saw the accused in the room.
During the cross examination Gumbs asked Mitchell if her nephew was not charged for the said crime to which she said ‘no’ and that he was charged for ‘stealing her fiancé’s shoes’.
Gumbs also asked her if she drinks alcohol to which she said yes but was not drinking that night.
He then told her that in her fiancé’s testimony, he said that Gumbs was wearing a long black pant and she said he was wearing a short black pant. Then he told her she was telling lies and that her fiancé put her up to it.
“I am here to tell the truth,” she said.
After the police officer Tamara Phillip who said that she was at the Dieppe Bay Police Station when the report was made testified, the Prosecution closed its case.
In his defense, Gumbs called to the witness stand his child’s mother Teslyn Francis who testified in court that at the date in question Gumbs was at her home in St. Pauls.
The prosecution led by Reynald Benjamin then cross examined Francis and told her she was lying.
A verdict in the matter should be expected sometime today.
