Matthew, Bass murder case begins!
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
 |
| Lumumba Matthew (L) and Justin Bass (R) exiting the courthouse yesterday after the first day of their trial. They have been jointly charged with the murder of 18 year old Darren Berry and the attempted murder of his brother, Dion Berry |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE murder trial of Lumumba Matthew and Justin Bass of St. Peters started yesterday morning at the Basseterre High Court but was adjourned until today.
The two young men were accused of shooting to death 18-year-old Darren Berry of Keys Village and attempting to murder or wounding with intent, his brother, Dion Berry on January 12, 2007.
During the prosecution’s opening statement presented by the Director of Public Prosecutions [DPP], Paulina Hendrickson, the jury was told what evidence they could expect to hear during the trial.
She said the evidence would show that sometime in 2006, Delvin Benjamin purchased motor jeep PA6048 from Justin Bass and sold it to Dion and Darren Berry on January 7, 2007.
She further explained the evidence would show that on January 12, 2007, Dion and Darren went to Basseterre to sell their goods and proceeded to journey in their vehicle to the Stapleton, St. Peters area to visit a friend. On conclusion of the visit they proceeded to Bayfords, where they were “attacked by gunfire” from both sides of the road. The DPP also explained it was alleged that Bass was on the left side of the road while Matthew was on the right. Darren succumbed to his injuries while Dion survived
Barbadian Forensic Pathologist Dr. Stephen Jones, who performed the post mortem on the remains of Darren at the Joseph N. France General Hospital’s Mortuary on January 17, 2007, was the sole witness called yesterday. ~~Adz:Right~~
Dr. Jones told the court that the first bullet he removed from Darren’s body had entered from the front lower abdomen, while the second one entered from the region above the pelvis and was removed from the third lumbar vertebrae. The Forensic pathologist said he found a third bullet that also entered Darren’s body from the region above the pelvis, but was recovered from beneath his left nipple. He explained that the bullet travelled from the point of entry through one of his lungs and through the left and right ventricles of his heart before depositing itself in the area in which it was found.
All bullets, the Dr. informed, were placed in police custody. According to the results of his examination, Dr. Jones told the court he concluded that Darren Berry died as a result of gunshot injuries to the chest and abdomen with haemmorage and shock.
Matthew is being represented by Chesley Hamilton while Jason Hamilton is representing Bass.
Some 15 prosecution witnesses are expected to be called during the case, including Dion Berry and his father, Dion Bruce Berry.
Presiding Judge, Justice Francis Belle adjourned the court proceedings sometime after 11:00 indicating that he was giving the prosecution team and defence counsels time to “set their houses in order” relative to the case.
