BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE murder trial of Fitzroy Challenger and Jamal Bradshaw took an interesting twist yesterday (Jan. 20) when one of the prosecution witnesses claimed he had no recollection of events surrounding the death of 16-year-old Josh Smithen.
Challenger and Bradshaw are on trial for Smithen’s murder which took place on September 9, 2006. On the night before his death, Smithen was stabbed in the head while attending the opening of St. Pauls’ Festival De Capisterre. He was taken to the Joseph N. France General Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Glenroy Smithen, cousin to the deceased, took the stand and said he could not remember what happened on September 8, 2006. He said he is aware of the fact that his cousin is dead but denied knowing the circumstances which led to his death.
Smithen said he could not recall giving a statement to the police on September 9, 2006 neither could he recall doing so in the presence of his mother. Even after shown a copy of that document, which he admits bears his signature, he still maintained that he could not recall giving such a statement to the police. Smithen was also shown a copy of the statement he gave at the Magistrate’s court and, despite identifying his affixed signature, he claimed that he could not remember giving evidence in that court.
When asked about specifics of the evening of September 8, 2006, Smithen was consistent and reiterated that he could not recall what or if anything happened on that night.
As if it were a recitation, he repeatedly said “I don’t recall” to every question posed to him.
Shenroy Francis, on the other hand, told the court what he saw on that evening. He said the incident started at the back of the St. Pauls Primary School’s computer lab and progressed onto the pasture.
Francis said he was at the back of the school when he saw Josh and Kenya heading towards him. He said Josh sat next to him and Kenya called a number of individuals who joined them.
Francis said they were all there for about 10-15 minutes when Challenger and Bradshaw approached them. He also stated that there was an exchange of words between the two newcomers, after which an altercation ensued between Josh and them.
He said Bradshaw threw a bottle and it hit Josh while Challenger chopped him (Josh) with a meat chopper.
“Josh get up and was going after Jamal. They started wrangling. Josh was trying to run. This was at the back of the school. Josh ran across on the pasture. While on the pasture, I saw Jamal stab Josh then Josh fell down and I see him stab him again and run. Jamal run to the fence and jump over the fence...I saw Greg box him [Josh]; about two box in he face and run.
Francis said he didn’t see anything in Josh’s hands when he was being stabbed by Jamal (with what he identified as an ice pick).
Under cross examination, Francis denied telling lies on the two accused and he also denied concocting his story based on information he received rather than what he saw.
Khaliah Challenger, another prosecution witness and cousin to the number one accused [Fitzroy Challenger], testified that she was at the function with her mother and a friend on September 8, 2006.
She said, “They had a fighting. It was 11:00. Fitzroy and Jamal and Josh were involved in the fight. The fight was on the pasture. I was on the hill. The hill is couple feet from the pasture. That night I saw Jamal and he was running towards the gate. Fitzroy was on Josh doing him something, but I don’t know what. Then some fellows came and put a headtie around Josh and carried him towards the gate.”
The witness told the court that Jamal had an ice pick in his hand while running towards the gate and Fitzroy had a “meat chopper” in his hand.
She also denied the suggestion made by Hesketh Benjamin, defence counsel to Fitzroy Challenger, that she did not see his client over Josh on the night of the incident.
The number two accused, Bradshaw, is being represented by Dr. Henry Browne.
The case continued today and the prosecution is expected to call more of its witnesses.
