Gilbert’s murder case continues…
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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| Sheldon Isaac (green shirt), Ruedeney Williams (brown shirt) and Louis Gardner (brown/white shirt) leaving the Courthouse |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - AFTER three days of attempts at completing their testimonies, two witnesses were finally able to do so on Friday in the case of four men who are being tried for the murder of Gavin ‘Magilla’ Gilbert.
Sheldon ‘Hatcher’ Isaac, Romeo ‘Buncum’ Cannonier, Ruedeney ‘Denney’ Williams and Louis ‘Tooloo’ Gardner are on trial for the May 21, 2005 murder of Gilbert and also with conspiring to murder him.
Gilbert was shot and killed a few metres outside his Saddlers Village home on May 21, 2005. However, when the offence was committed, ‘Buncum’ was in prison having been charged with the murder of Police Constable Delvin Nisbett: an offence of which he has since been convicted.
Gilbert ’s murder trial is said to have strong ties with the Delvin Nisbett’s case and the prosecution is seeking to prove that Buncum sought the assistance of his accomplices in killing Gilbert who is said to have been a witness against him.
The case officially began last week Wednesday with Sir Richard Cheltenham, QC, leading the prosecution team and endeavouring to
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Romeo 'Buncum' Cannonier
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have evidence presented by all 24 witnesses.
To date, 16 of them have given evidence including Denney’s ex-girlfriend, Kimia Evelyn, and Donell Warner.
Evelyn was the third witness to have taken the stand on Wednesday but could not give evidence, as she had difficulty composing herself before taking the stand. She broke down in tears and had to leave the courtroom.
An obviously nervous Stevens was called to the witness stand after Evelyn, but he fainted during his testimony. Officers of the court attempted to revive him but with little success and a unit of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was called in for assistance. He left the court and boarded the vehicle which presumably took him to the Joseph N. France General Hospital.
Evelyn returned to the court on Thursday and testified that she knew all accused in the matter including Denney, with whom she has a child and lived with for some time, and also his uncle, Tooloo.
Her emotions however got the better of her when questions concerning Gilbert’s death were asked. With teary eyes, sobs and obvious discomfort, Evelyn, again, was unable to continue giving her evidence in the case.
When Stevens returned to the court on Thursday, he said that some time after Gilbert’s death, he was washing Tooloo’s car and was told of what transpired on the night of the incident.
~~Adz:Left~~Stevens said Tooloo told him that he and Hatcher had waited in the bushes which line the pathway leading to Gilbert’s home and when he was seen they shot him and fled the scene.
Stevens made it through the examination process but appeared a bit woozy during the process of cross-examination. He was removed from the courtroom and once again an EMS Unit was called in to provide assistance.
On Friday, both individuals completed their testimonies and Evelyn recounted the happenings of that day.
She said that on March 21, 2005, she was picked up from work by Denny, and while they were on their way home he received a call from Hatcher who requested that he pick him up. She said Denny told Hatcher that he was unable to do so as he had his girlfriend in the vehicle with him.
“When we got home I went inside to lie down. I had a headache…while I was lying on the bed I noticed Ruedeney was cleaning a gun. He has gloves on his hands…It was a sliver spin-barrel gun.”
Evelyn told the court that after Denny had taken a phone call, he put down the gun and warned her not to touch it and not to get her fingerprints on it and he “went outside”. This, she said, was about 6:00 p.m.
Having looked to see where he was going, Evelyn explained, she saw Denney, Tooloo and Hatcher dressed in dark clothing, embark his vehicle and left. About 15 minutes later he returned and at about 7:00 o’clock indicated that he had to “check ‘BZ’ for a cd” and left with the gun he was cleaning.
Evelyn told the court that Denny told her he had to leave the house again between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. to “check ‘BZ’ for the cd”. He left some time after 10:00 p.m. and on his return informed her that he heard Gilbert had been shot and killed.
After insisting that she wanted to visit the scene of the crime, Denney, Evelyn explained, “pulled on a hoodie” and they journeyed there by foot. “He told if anyone asked, he was at home all night with me.”
Evelyn testified that the day after Gilbert was killed “names started calling” and persons began speaking of the “dress code” of person(s) who committed the incident. She said she questioned Denney and he told her that he did not know what she was speaking about.
The case continues tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. when other prosecution witnesses are expected to take the stand.
Hatcher and Buncum are being represented by Reginald W. James, Denney is being represented by Jason Hamilton and Hesketh Benjamin is representing Tooloo.
