BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH the closing of the prosecution’s case, Sheldon ‘Sword’ Cannonier, who is charged with shooting a law officer, is expected to put evidence before the jury for its consideration next Monday.
Cannonier is charged with “possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life”, “wounding with intent” and “unlawful wounding” committed on February 24, 2006 against Glen Thomas who was then a Fire Officer.
His trial began on Wednesday (Feb. 11) at the Basseterre High Court of Justice with five prosecution witnesses being called including Thomas, the virtual complainant (VC).
According to Thomas, he and his then girlfriend, Mandisa Dore, were in a bedroom at her mother’s Taylors Village house when he heard the bedroom’s louver being opened, followed by a tapping sound. He said he saw a hand – with a clear complexion – with a gun stretching through the window.
Thomas told the court that he was shot three times, once to the right thigh, once to the buttock and once to the right side of his torso. He said after the shooting stopped the window was closed, and when it reopened he saw Cannonier standing on the outside.
Sometime during that night, as Thomas indicated, Cannonier and another individual were in the area dressed in dark clothing.
Lead investigator of the incident Sergeant James Sutton told the court that when he questioned Cannonier, the accused told him that he was at home on the night of the incident because he was unwell. The officer said that despite Cannonier’s alibi, he continued his investigations and at a later date arrested and charged him.
SGT Sutton said Cannonier was charged with “shooting with intent”, which was later withdrawn and replaced with “wounding with intent”.
After Sutton’s cross-examination by Cannonier’s lawyer, John Cato, the prosecution closed its case and the accused indicated to the court that he would be calling two persons, his mother and his sister, to give evidence on his behalf. He told the court that he would also be taking the witness stand.
Both Crown and defence counsels are expected to deliver their closing arguments and His Lordship Justice Francis Belle is expected to give a summation of the evidence before the jury is sent to deliberate.
Criminal court resumes on February 16, 2009 at 9:00 in the morning.
