Defence Force soldier guilty of manslaughter

By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – LOUIS RICHARDS, a Private of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) who was on trial for murder, has been exonerated of the charge but was found guilty of manslaughter.

At approximately 1:30 this afternoon, a 12-member jury retired for deliberations and was charged with the responsibility of deciding on the innocence or guilt of Richards, who was tried for the murder of 49-year-old Clyde Williams and wounding both Addren ‘Ado’ Searles and Jevon ‘Herbie’ Woodley with intent. The incidents took place on August 3, 2007 in Old Road.

Almost three and a half hours after, the jury emerged and informed that it was undecided on a number of counts but came to a decision on others.

The Foreman told the court that, on the charge of murder, they were divided 10-2 and found Richards was not guilty as charged. He however informed that they had found him guilty of manslaughter.

When asked of the first count of “wounding with intent” which pertains to Searles, the Foreman told the court that the jury was divided 8-4, and on the second “wounding with intent” charge, which is in relation to Woodley, they informed that they were undecided and divided 6-6.

Trial judge, His Lordship Justice Francis Belle, declared a mistrial on both counts of “wounding with intent” and indicated that a subsequent trial would have to be held where Richards’ innocence would be maintained or guilt established.

Richards was remanded in custody and was transported to Her Majesty’s Prison where he awaits his sentencing hearing scheduled for December 4, 2008.  ~~Adz:Right~~

The six-day long trial saw some 21 prosecution witnesses and five defence witnesses, inclusive of the accused, being called to give evidence in the case.

According to the Crown’s case, Richards, having been shot in the buttock on the night of August 3, 2007 while at 2Pac’s Bar, took cover after which he emerged and shot at and wounded Searles. The prosecution was also endeavouring to prove that the same bullet which struck Searles fatally wounded Williams.

It was also the prosecution’s case that Richards, in the company of three other individuals, walked to the eastern end of Old Road and, unprovoked, shot at and injured Woodley.

Under oath however, Richards told the court that on the night when he was shot, there were three individuals with guns in the alley from which the shots came. He said they were firing at him and he was able to identify two of them; Searles and Woodley.

He admitted to firing at Searles but said he was not certain if the bullet had caught him. He also told the court that when he was about 20 feet from Woodley, he (Woodley) began reacting in a hostile manner and proceeded to hoist his shirt. Remembering that he had seen him earlier with a weapon firing at him, Richards said he fired shots at Woodley but, again, was unsure if he was struck by any.

When asked if he knew that the bullet which he discharged from his weapon on the first instance struck and killed Williams, Richards told the court that he had not seen him on that evening but was later told he was shot and killed.

Richards faces the possibility of life sentence which is the maximum penalty for manslaughter.