Victim in shooting case charged with “Obstruction of Justice”
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
~~Adz:Left~~BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A strong message was sent in court yesterday when the virtual complainant [VC] in a case of “wounding with intent” was arrested and charged with “obstruction of justice” by order of presiding judge, Justice Francis Belle.
Terrance Hendrickson of College Street Ghaut (the VC) was the first witness to take the stand in the case of which Jonelle Merritt is the accused. He is accused of shooting Hendrickson in the leg on the May 31, 2007 at College Street Ghaut.
After taking the oath, Hendrickson proved to be an unwilling and uncooperative witness. He was examined by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Paulina Hendrickson, and just after a couple of questions into the examination he proclaimed to the court that he wished for no further action to be taken.
“I don’t want to go any further with the case.” This he repeated and continued in his stance of unwillingness.
Hendrickson told the court that he had no intention of answering any other question posed to him and stated that at the Preliminary Inquiry he had indicated that he did not want the case to continue.
Justice Belle told the VC that he is breech of his recognisance to give evidence in court and is also in contempt of court. Hendrickson was offered an opportunity to give the court an explanation or reasons for wanting a discontinuation, but he refused.
Seemingly perturbed by the transpiration, Justice Belle ordered that Hendrickson be arrested “forthwith” and charged with “obstruction of justice”.
He was taken from the court shortly thereafter and the case continued.
The second witness in the case was Police Constable Ray Farrell who told the court that on the day of the incident, at about 2:10 p.m., he was at his College Street Ghaut home preparing for work when he observed the incident.
“While dressing I heard arguing outside. I immediately stopped what I was doing and went in the front room and looked outside. I could not see the person arguing so I went on the veranda and I saw Terrence Hendrickson standing on the western side of the Ghaut. I saw one man with dreadlocks on the eastern side of the Ghaut. Within seconds, I saw the accused pull a .38 revolver from his right side and aimed it at Terrance Hendrickson. In the space of three seconds, I heard a loud bang then I saw smoke coming from the weapon.”
The officer told the court that he saw when the victim hopped backwards and fell into some bushes.
“I heard someone shout out ‘Boy you shoot me brother! Boy you shoot me brother’!” According to Farrell, Merritt then walked to his car that was parked at College Street Ghaut, entered it and drove southwards.
Farrell said he rushed back into his house, dialed 911 and reported the matter. Farrell also stated that after he finished dressing, he quickly departed his home and assisted in “controlling the scene” and preventing it from being contaminated by the crowd that was rapidly growing.
Following cross examination from defence counsel Jason Hamilton, Farrell indicated to the court that he did not attempt to make any arrests during the incident, as he did not have a weapon and thought it unwise to attempt an arrest given the above-stated circumstances.
The case continues today.
