Re-trial for two men —— Inadmissible evidence given

High Court Justice Pamela Elder yesterday in the Port-of-Spain Fifth Criminal Court ordered a re-trial for two men who are charged with attempted murder and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The re-trial is estimated to begin in September. Leroy Hoyte and Dereck Madoo, both from Chaguanas, allegedly attacked Michael Walker with a cutlass when he was walking along Lawrence Wong Road, Longden-ville, with his common-law wife Judy Bishop on September 2, 1998 between 9 and 10 pm. Walker received wounds to his head, hands and shoulder.

Justice Elder in aborting the trial, which began on Friday, said that the State elicited inadmissible evidence from Walker which is highly prejudicial against Hoyte and potentially prejudicial against Madoo, and due to the nature of the evidence, no warning to the jury would overcome prejudice to both defendants. She also said that the State conceded that no direction from her could remove the prejudice and in the circumstances, the trial is to be aborted, jury discharged and a re-trial ordered for both accused. The State prosecutor was Alexander Prince while Hoyte was represented by attorney Ryan Cameron and Madoo was represented by attorney Mario Meritt.