Wife provided husband’s alibi — ‘My husband was with me’

THE wife of  murder accused, Glenroy London, yesterday testified that her husband was at home with her the night he was accused of murdering Cedros gardener Clifford Mark.

Geeta Denise Maharaj gave the alibi as she continued her evidence from the witness box of the First Criminal Assizes of the San Fernando High Court. London, 43, a labourer of Point Ligoure, was pointed out by the State’s star witness Byron Vespry as the main participant in Mark’s murder, which was committed  during the early hours of November 14, 2000. Vespry, who was with London at the time and among a gang that allegedly killed Mark in the Cedros forest, was granted immunity after he agreed to testify for the State. Maharaj testified before the jury and Justice Melville Baird that on November 13, 2000, she began operating a parlour in front her father’s house at Point Ligoure. She said after closing the shop, she and London walked to their home on Warden Road and went to sleep around 12.30 pm. Maharaj claimed she was a light sleeper and recalled that on that night, “He got up to use the bed pot for a minute or two and came back to bed.” The accused’s wife denied that her husband was elsewhere that night.

“That couldn’t be true because when I got up that morning he was there,” she insisted. Maharaj also admitted to knowing that London sold drugs. She said she found out when London was convicted in June 2000 for a narcotic charge. Also testifying yesterday was Elton Botswain, who said that sometime in late 2000, star witness Vespry had threatened that London “would be very sorry” if the accused did not return a quantity of cocaine which he had stolen. Botswain testified that he, a man nicknamed “Strongy” and London escaped with the drugs after they beat up Vespry and a man named “Raymond.” Botswain said two days later in Point Fortin, “Raymond,” Vespry and two other men threatened to shoot or chop him if he did not hand over his share of the cocaine. London’s attorney Ian Stuart Brooke closed the case for the defence after Botswain’s testimony, and Brook is expected to address the jury today. Acting Assistant DPP Joan Honore Paul is leading the prosecution’s case.