Closing arguments heard in Bass, Matthew murder trial
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
~~Adz:Left~~BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AFTER about one week of listening to testimonies is the case of murder for which Lumumba Matthew and Justin Bass were charged, the impaneled jury is now listening to the closing arguments from the defence lawyers and the prosecution team.
Earlier this morning, Jason Hamilton, defence counsel for the number two accused, Justin Bass, called his final witness, Grayson Fergus of Stapleton Village, to take the stand.
In giving his evidence-in-chief, Fergus told the court that on January 12, 2007 he was with Justin Bass from about after 11:00 in the morning to sometime after 7:00 that evening.
He said he went to Justin’s house that morning, where he stayed and chatted with him, after which they both went “over the Ghaut” to Matthew’s house. While there, Fergus continued, Bass received a call from his mother, Verna Bass, which caused them to return to Bass’ home. This, he explained, was sometime after 1:00 in the afternoon.
The witness told the court that he and Justin Bass accompanied Verna Bass to her place of work at the Marriott and were told by her to wait there until she returned. Some 45 minutes later she returned with groceries and placed them in the car.
Fergus indicated that they left the Marriott sometime after 3:00 p.m. and went to the place where he worked to collect his wages. He also indicated that Justin Bass was the driver of the vehicle in which he had occupied the front passenger seat. Additionally, Fergus stated that although he did not get his wages, they waited there for a while before proceeding to a Chinese Restaurant at West Independence Street and thence to Justin Bass’ home.
Fergus explained that on arrival at Justin’s home they were met by soldiers, one of whom spoke with Justin. He further explained that he remained at Justin’s home until sometime after 7:00 in the evening before the number two accused took him home. Fergus said during the time that he was with Justin, they never journeyed to the Bayford’s area.
Reynold Benjamin of the prosecution team brought to the fore a number of discrepancies between Fergus’s in-court testimony and the statement he gave to the police on January 19, 2007.
Lumumba Matthew and Justin Bass have been jointly charged with the January 12, 2007 murder of 18-year-old Darren Berry of Keys Village and the attempted murder of his brother, Dion Berry, also of Keys Village.
The victims were travelling in the Bayford’s area in Dion’s vehicle when they were attacked with gunfire. Darren died at the scene and Dion was transported to the Joseph N. France General Hospital, where he was treated for gunshot injuries to both arms.
Following closing arguments from Bass’ lawyer, Jason Hamilton, Matthew’s lawyer, Chesley Hamilton and the prosecution, presiding judge, Justice Francis Belle is expected to present his summation of the evidence and send the jury to deliberate.
