Buncum takes the stand

By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com


BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ROMEO ‘Buncum’ Cannonier, the number two accused in the murder case of Gavin ‘Magilla’ Gilbert, took the stand earlier today and told the court that prosecution witness Lionel Warner had lied on him. 

After the prosecution closed its case, number one accused, Sheldon ‘Hatcher’ Isaac, was offered an opportunity to take the stand but refused. 

The same offer was made to Cannonier and he accepted. While under oath, Cannonier explained to the court that he knows Lionel Warner, the man whom the prosecution alleged was given the message of death by Cannonier, but maintains he did not communicate with him while they were both incarcerated at Her Majesty’s Prison. 

According to Warner, while he was in prison during November and December 2004, he was told by Cannonier to tell Louis ‘Tooloo’ Gardner, the number four accused, to get rid of Gilbert. Warner told the court that he complied. Cannonier said that he knew Warner since in 1996 but at the time of his [Warner’s] incarceration in November 2004, they were not on speaking terms. 

He also stated the reasons for them not being on speaking terms at that time. Cannonier explained that on June 5, 2004 he loaned Warner $1 000, which was to be given to his child’s mother. The number two accused said he also gave Warner an extra US$15 which was for him to keep. Since then, Cannonier explained, he has not been repaid.~~Adz:Right~~ 

According to Cannonier, Warner also accused him of having sex with one of his children’s mother, which served to create further confusion between the two. “I never slept in the same cell with Lionel Warner. He was in 16. There was one between us, 15, and I was in 14. (Relative to the Cannonier giving Warner the message of death to be executed upon Gavin ‘Magilla’ Gilbert), I had no such conversation with Mr. Warner…I did not order the death of the last Gavin Gilbert. I did not have such intention…I did not kill Gavin Gilbert.” 

Cannonier said he knew two of his co-accused, Louis ‘Tooloo’ Gardner and Rudeney ‘Denney’ Williams, but was not on good terms with them during the period that the alleged conspiracy to commit the murder of Gilbert. He said he never spoke to Sheldon ‘Hatcher’ Isaac before or during the alleged conspiracy. 

“I know co-accused Louis Gardner. We did not get along…we had a fight couple of years ago in the 90s. We were enemies. I gave him couple box, buss up he mout’. If me and Tooloo cannot be friend, how can me and Denny be friends when they are family. After the 1990s, Tooloo and I or Denny and I never spoke. It makes no sense that I would be sending messages to Tooloo. I did not send any message to Tooloo to tell him to kill Magilla. I never see Shelson Isaac on the road and never spoke to him. First time I saw him was when he was in jail.” 

After Cannonier was cross-examined, Ruedeney ‘Denny’ Williams took the stand, but during examination by his counsel, Jason Hamilton, the court recessed for lunch. Louis ‘Tooloo’ Gardner is expected to also be offered an opportunity to take the stand when court resumes.