BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE prosecution might have a difficult time convincing a jury that Elroy ‘Stanny’ Williams committed the murder of Parson’s resident Delvis ‘Tubal’ Romney, especially after one of its key witnesses copped out on the stand.
Williams’ case began yesterday (May 31) with the prosecution team, led by Director of Public Prosecution Paulina Hendrickson, attempting to prove that on the night of August 10, 2008 Williams drew a gun and fatally shot 23-year-old Romney while at a bar in Lynches.
In her opening statement, Crown Counsel Rhonda Nisbett Browne told the jury that the prosecution expects Romney’s brother, Craig Bradshaw, to testify that on the night in question he was in attendance of an event at the Jah Flix Bar in Lynches, where he saw Williams shot his brother.
She said the prosecution expects that Bradshaw would speak of the confrontation that he observed between Williams and his brother, which led to him being shot.
Under oath, however, Bradshaw testified that he was at the function when he saw his brother and Williams arguing. He stated that as he drew closer to investigate, he heard a shot and he retreated to the outside of the bar. He added that after his retreat, he saw his brother lying on he ground holding his side.
“…I can’t say who bus’ the shot; I did not see a gun…,” Bradshaw said.
Owner and operator of the bar where the function was being held, James ‘Jah Flix’ French, explained to the court that he was on the outside of his bar with someone when he heard a loud bang to which he reacted by ducking behind a car. He said after removing from the car, he went to the area where a crowd had converged and saw Romney “lying on the ground” and “breathing heavily”.
French explained that a couple of individuals placed Romney in his vehicle and he transported him to the Pogson Hospital in Sandy Point. On arrival at the hospital, an ambulance was in the vicinity and Romney was transferred to that vehicle, French said.
Akesha Lynch, another prosecution witness, said she was at the event and was sharing a dance with the deceased before the incident occurred. She said she left Romney to get a drink from the bar and, while there, she heard a loud noise but paid it no mind.
Upon return to the area where she and Romney were dancing, Lynch said she saw him “lying on the ground”. Lynch however added that while dancing with the deceased she did not see the accused.
Constable Fitzroy Morton, investigator attached to the case, testified that following the incident he informed Williams that he was investigating an incident in which it is alleged that he murdered Romney.
Morton said Williams “denied the allegation” and said, “I don’t even know the fellow who got shot. Everything happen so fast. All I could say is the wrong person got shot.”
“He also said he can identify the person if he sees him again. I asked for a description and all he could say is the person got two thick lips.”
The investigator said he executed a search warrant on William’s premises for guns, ammunition, drugs and items used in the commission of a crime, but nothing to satisfy the warrant was found. He said he formally arrested and charged Williams four days after the incident.
At the end of yesterday’s session, the court had heard evidence from eight of the prosecution’s 10 witnesses and is expecting to hear from the other two today.
