BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE four men currently on trial for the kidnapping of Larry and Gilda Vaughan said that the prosecution has no evidence that identified them as the kidnappers.
Jahmana ‘Sky Juice’ Walters, Ali ‘Humble’ Percival, Clayton ‘Yellow’ Laws and Jermaine ‘Recka’ Riley briefly addressed the jury yesterday (Feb. 6) after the prosecution rested its case against them.
When His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas gave them the option to stay in the prisoners’ box and remain silent or go to the witness box and give sworn evidence where they would be cross examined by the prosecution, the men chose to remain silent.
“This is now your chance to address the jury,” His Lordship said.
Walters told the Court that, based on the evidence, he did not see anyone pointing anything at him.
Percival, who was next to take the stand, said that Police Officer Damian Challenger did not find any of his fingerprints at the home of the Vaughans and that the couple did not identify him as the kidnapper. He also said that he told the police the reason why he was at the house within which Gilda Vaughan was held captive.
Laws told the Court that during the Vaughans evidence neither of them mentioned his name or said that they knew him.
And Riley said the people who gave evidence did not identify him or anyone as the kidnapper, and that he got a call to be by the house in question.
Before the men gave their sworn evidence, Corporal Consie Rogers completed her testimony from the previous day.
Rogers said that Inspector Belgrove had given her a number of exhibits they found at the house in which Gilda Vaughan was found, and they included duct tapes, white gloves, white strappings, binoculars, masks, three firearms, some ammunition, some cellular phones, some black jackets and two bags.
She also received items belonging to Gilda Vaughan from Constable George and Inspector Belgrove that were found at the house. These items, she told the Court, were a blouse, a capri jean, a white bra, toothpaste, a purse and a toothbrush, and added that Watt Watt gave her a key for Langley’s jeep.
However, the key for the jeep was never brought into evidence.
Rogers read Percival’s statement in Court, which stated that on October 28, 2011 he said that he someone had offered him a job to perform security duties at the East Park Range house and he had accepted it.
The statement also stated that Percival said he was asked if he had “straps”, which he understood to mean guns, and he told the person that he would have to call his brother on that issue.
The statement further noted that Percival said when he reached the house he received a call from a male telling him that the key for the house was in a plant pot.
The Court was also told that he said he had placed the guns in the chest of drawers and had fallen asleep around 10:30 p.m. and awoke about 1:00 a.m., adding that two bedrooms that in the house were locked and he did not hear anyone screaming.
Additionally, Percival’s statement noted that he had sent a message to “the other person to bring something to eat” and reiterated that he was doing security work and was to leave at 9:00 a.m.
In his cross examinagtion of Rogers, Walters asked if he had given her a written statement, to which she replied in the negative. He also asked what colour of clothing he was wearing at the time and from where was he picked up. To both question the officer said that she did not know.
Laws then asked her if she had identified the key for the jeep in the Court and if the jeep was still in custody. Again, she answered in the negative to both questions.
Acting Director of Public Prosecution Rhonda Nisbett-Browne then asked the witness what happened to the jeep, and she informed that it was handed over to the owner.
Gilda Vaughan was rescued as a result of a joint operation conducted by members of the Police and Defence Forces at about 5:00 a.m. on October 29, 2011.
Percival and Riley, who are brothers, were found in the unoccupied house on East Park Range with a number of firearms and Gilda Vaughan held in one of the bedrooms.
The vehicle that was given to Laws to be fixed by Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Student Lauren Longley was allegedly used in the kidnapping but was reported missing by Longley.
Officer Rogers said Walters had told her that “I don’t know about the kidnap part, all I know is I was up the Park about one or two in the morning (Oct. 28) when I get a call from the other person. I get the key for the jeep from the other person, who say he don’t have a licence, and I went to pick up something for them to eat. I don’t know nothing, so I can’t talk.”
His Lordship will make his summation today (Feb. 7) and will instruct the jury on the law prior to its members going into deliberation on the verdict.
