Kemba Swanston testifies
By Suelika N. Buchanan
Editor-SKNVibes.com
 |
| Dora's shop in Key's Village |
(Basseterre; St. Kitts) : The jurors in the murder trial of Kemba Swanston visited the scene where the murder occurred this morning, Monday October 9.
The murder occurred at four mile Alley on June 2, 2004 where Dennis Trotman lost his life and his brother Davin Henry was injured.
His lordship Justice Francis Belle, jurors, defense and his lawyer, the prosecution team, court officials, witnesses and other curious onlookers were present at the scene.
The prosecution called a few witnesses including the driver of the bus, that Trotman and Henry drove in and also Eudora Thompson owner of Dora's shop.
Dominic Stevens also gave evidence at the scene and describe where he was standing when the bus arrived and when the attack on the bus occurred.
He also said that he saw Swanston coming up the alley from the main road's direction picking up stones.
Davin Henry described and showed the jurors where his brother was surrounded by Swanston, Kurt Mills and Antwan Thompson and that Kenneth mills did the stabbing.
 |
| The Skinnip Tree where the bus was parked. All Photos by Suelika N. Buchanan |
Trenis Hobson said that he saw the accused and the four other men namely Leon Norford, Antwan Thompson, Kenneth and Kurt Mills later that day at Norford's home.
The others who testified included Swanston, and the four convicted on the manslaughter charge of Trotman.
The Defense presented its case on Thursday following the last witness called by the prosecution.
Swanston chose the option of going into the witness stand where he will be asked questions by his lawyer, the prosecution, the foreman of the jurors and his lordship when several options were made to him in how he wanted to defend himself.
Swanston said that he left his home sometime around 11 a.m. to get some lunch from Dora's shop. He said that he walked up four mile alley and noticed a crowd of people at the top and a bus with the back window smashed.
He said that he saw the other four men round the bus and noticed two individuals in the bus which were Trotman and Henry.
He continued by saying that he went under a skinnip tree where the bus was parked and saw the guys running back and fourth but was unsure of what they were doing.
 |
| Kemba Swanston on trial for murder and attempted murder |
He said that he heard a lady cry out, "Me arm they kill the man." And he ran from the scene as he saw others did.
He also said that he didn't have a knife on him that the day and that he didn't know what was going on so he couldn't have pick up bottles and stones to throw as a witness said he had done.
He was later apprehended by the police in August since the crime was committed in June.
When he was asked of why he fled the scene he replied and said that he was frightened and that he was very unfortunate and was certain he would have been apprehended for something he did not do.
After today's visit at the scene the prosecution will now make their closing remarks followed by the Defense's lawyer Jason Hamilton's statement.
The jurors are expected to go into deliberation after they've been advised from the judge tomorrow, Tuesday October 10.
~~Adz:Right~~
