Robbery case continues, jury hears from victims

By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – “…I felt something touch me on the right side of my cheek. I looked around and I saw a gun in my face…” This was the testimony of Tamboura Kitwana, one of the individuals who were allegedly robbed by the four young men who are standing trial on related charges.

Kitwana was the first witness to have taken the stand on Thursday (Dec. 4) in the case in which Jamal Parris, Karim Dickenson, Ramie Gumbs and Devon Wattley are charged with four counts of robbery and two counts of assault with intent to rob.

Gumbs was also charged with one count of having a firearm in possession with intent to endanger life. The incidents were allegedly committed on December 16, 2005.

During his testimony, Kitwana told the court that at about 11:15 on the evening of December 15, 2005, he was sitting on his step conversing with his neighbour about the days he resided in Canada.

He said a masked man pointed a gun at him while another held a knife to his neighbour’s neck.

“I shoved the gun away from my face and said, ‘boy why you all ain’t stop you stupidness and get out the alley?’ On saying that, the one with the gun hit me in the head with the gun…After he struck me he said, ‘Give me everything you got. Give me everything you got’,” Kitwana said.~~Adz:Right~~

The witness further explained that the gunman tried to get into his pocket, but he resisted “because it was payday and I had just gotten all my money and I didn’t want them to get that. I had about $70 in my front pocket and I took it out and I gave it to the gun man”.

Kitwana said the thieves took his watch, attempted to take his ring and made off with his radio/cassette player. Hours later, when the sun had risen, Kitwana went to his place of employment then to the Basseterre Police Station to report the incident.

He told the court it was during his visit to the police station that he next saw his watch.

During cross-examination, Kitwana told the court that he is unaware of who his attackers were as they had bandanas tied across their faces. He said only a part of their eyes was visible.

Elishers Rogers told the court she was in the comfort of her Sebastian Street, Newtown home sometime after midnight on December 16, 2005 when two masked men entered and used personal force against her.

“I was inside my bedroom…about five minutes after two men came through the southern door [of the house]. One had a silver gun. I couldn’t see the other person that well so I don’t know if they had something. The one with the gun pointed it to my head and said, ‘Wey dey be. Wey dey be?’…I did not know who or what he was talking about so I did not answer.”

Rogers explained that by refusing to answer, one of the men struck her in the head with the gun.  She also stated that after the encounter, the men exited the house through the front room.

Help was summoned and she went to the Joseph N. France General Hospital, where she received treatment for the injury to her head.

Under cross-examination, Rogers said the men were dressed in black clothing with their faces covered. She also said that they did not take anything from her, or did they attempt to, and she could not identify her attackers.

Some four witnesses have already given evidence in the case and it is expected to continue on Monday.