Garvey Rogers on trial for Attempted Murder

By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
 
~~Adz:Right~~BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A 12-woman jury is expected to retire for deliberations today to decide on the innocence or guilt of Conaree resident Garvey Rogers, who is accused of attempting to murder fellow Conaree resident Devon ‘Junie’ Roberts.
 
Garvey’s case began yesterday when he appeared before the Basseterre High Court, presided over by Justice Francis Belle.
 
Devon Roberts, the virtual complainant in the case, was the first prosecution witness called to the stand and said that while on his way home on the night in question, he heard the sound of a gunshot.
 
He testified that on October 29, 2007 at about 5:00 p.m., he went home from work, showered and proceeded to visit his brother who lives in the said village. The VC explained that his brother was not at home and he decided to “hang around with some friends”.
 
According to Roberts’ testimony, at about 8 o’clock that evening, he decided to make his way back home, and while doing so he sensed that he was being followed.  He said it was then that he lowered the volume on his ipod and “as soon as I did, I heard a gunshot…then I felt a sharp pain in the middle of my back”.
 
Roberts told the court that he turned to see who was shooting at him and attempted to run but could not.
 
“…He was pointing the gun at me, he was coming towards me. We were 20 feet apart. I observed his face for about five to 10 seconds. There was nothing blocking my view of the accused…He continued to fire at me and I felt two more shots in my back and I fell to the ground. I stayed there on the ground and pretended to be dead.”

While on the ground, Roberts said that he heard footsteps approaching him and shortly after he also heard when the person left the scene. A woman, according to Roberts, came to his aid and a young man called the Emergency Medical Services.
 
Roberts was taken to the Joseph N. France General Hospital, where he was warded for some 39 days. He told the court that one of the bullets struck his diaphragm, one struck his liver and another struck his spine.
 
Two other prosecution witnesses were called in the persons of Dr. Cameron Wilkinson and Police Constable Elvin Browne.  Another witness was to have been called but he failed to appear before the court and several attempts to locate him were unsuccessful.  Resultantly, a bench warrant was issued.
 
This morning, it is expected that Justice Belle will “sum up” the evidence in the case and send the jury off to deliberate.
 
A report on their findings will be posted in a subsequent article on this website.