BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – KEVIN HORSTWOOD was on Tuesday (Jan. 15) arraigned at the opening of the January Criminal Assizes in the Basseterre High Court and pleaded not guilty to the murder of Matthew Murphy.
Horstwood was said to be the General Manager and owner of Rawlins Plantation Inn, which is situated in the Belmont Estate area in St. Paul’s Village, when the 60-year-old Murphy, who was an employee of the entity, was killed.
The incident occurred sometime between December 28 and 30, 2011 in St. Paul’s.
On Friday (Dec. 30), Murphy’s body was discovered within a canefield in St. Paul’s Village with what police claimed to be apparent stab wounds in his torso.
Murphy was said to have been living on St. Kitts for some 10 months prior to his death and was an American citizen, while Horstwood is said to be a native of the United Kingdom.
Horstwood was charged with the murder on January 2, 2012 and is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Angela Inniss.
Horstwood trial is set to take place sometime during the Assizes and is one of four new murder cases that will join six which were traversed.
Kyam Veira also pleaded not guilty on Tuesday. He was charged with the April 24, 2011 murder of Sherwin Williams in Godwin Ghut.
According to reports, the lifeless body of Williams was discovered lying on his left side on a dirt road in a remote area above the railway in the vicinity of the Godwin Ghaut Bridge with injuries to the neck and head, which appeared to be caused by gunshots.
Veira is being represented by Dr. Henry Browne, QC, who was not present, but Attorney-at-Law Counsel Hesketh Benjamin told the Court that “I am holding papers for Dr. Browne”.
Raheem Crossley pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jermaine Browne of Conaree Village, which occurred on April 19, 2012.
Reports stated that shortly before 7:00 a.m., Browne was murdered execution-style north of the junction of East Park Range and Park Street in the vicinity of National Housing Corporation.
SKNVibes learnt that the 28-year-old construction worker was on his way to work when the incident occurred.
He was shot multiple times to body, including the head and lower abdomen.
Randy Taylor and Lennox Gumbs, who were jointly charged with the murder of Trevis Henville, both pleaded not guilty.
Reports stated that shortly after 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 17, 2012, Henville was shot to death execution-style on Shaw Avenue in McKnight.
On arrival at the scene, this publication had observed his body lying motionless on the street, some 50 metres south of Cayon Street, with multiple gunshot wounds to the back, chest and buttocks.
The 19-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene by District Medical Officer Dr. Reginald O’Loughlin and the body was removed by undertakers from Jenkins Funeral Home under police escort.
The six traversed cases are that of Amal Whyte and Devon Fyfield charged for the June 23, 2005 murder of Hubert Phipps; Denver Fyfield, charged with the murder of Hendricks Roberts, who was killed sometime between June 20 and June 21, 2010; Nelson Challenger, Shenroy Francis, Jomi Rawlins, Glenroy Smithen and Moses Gardener, charged with the April 10, 2008 murder/manslaughter of Gregory Zakers; Kelroy Hazel and Jahari Bart charged with the April 4, 2011 murder of Laustin Jamie 'Big Ship' Williams at Buckley's Estate; a juvenile charged with the April 3, 2009 killing of 14-year-old Bejay Dore; and Erastus Laville who is accused of killing Wendell Wilkinson in Basseterre on July 8, 2011.
The sentencing of Alpha Duporte, who was convicted for the murder of Dexter ‘Asbal’ Marsham on December 5, 2011, is yet to take place. He is said to have shot Marsham to death and also attempted to murder Royden Gumbs and Jessica Gumbs in Godwin Ghaut on July 18, 2009.
The convict had been awaiting his sentencing hearing pending a psychiatric evaluation by Dr. Sharon Halliday.
However, Acting Director of Public Prosecution Rhonda Nisbett-Browne told the court that they are still awaiting the report of Halliday who had to travel overseas urgently.
His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas told Duporte that his sentencing would be adjourned until she returns.
