Father takes stand in killing of daughter

THE FATHER of a 13-year-old girl was the first State witness called to give evidence in the preliminary inquiry into the July 14 shooting incident in which she was killed.

Ancil Skinner, 55, of LP 52 Mentor Alley, Upper Laventille, yesterday got on the witness stand at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Eighth Court to give evidence before Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls, where he was examined by police prosecutor Acting Insp Kenneth Cordner and cross-examined by defence attorney Keith Scotland. Joanna “Suke” Walker, the last of Skinner’s six children, was shot moments after she came out of her home for a breath of fresh air. She later died on arrival at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. 

The man charged with her murder, Nassau Charles, 23, of Hamlet Trace, St Barbs, was also charged with shooting at another person, Abiola Abraham, two counts of possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition and possession of ammunition to endanger life. All of the offences allegedly took place on the same evening. He was arrested and subsequently charged by Cpl Steve Sookdeo of the Besson Street CID. Hearing will resume on December 11.