Evidence won’t stop murder trial

AS A result of his misinterpretation of part of the evidence given by a witness in the preliminary inquiry into the murder of a Belmont teenager, a defence attorney was yesterday unable to make the final submission that may have prevented his client, the man accused of the murder, from being committed to stand trial at the next sitting of the Assizes.

Attorney Wayne Sturge came to the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Eighth Court armed with a document with which he had expected to make a submission for his client, Shondell “Boneman” Riley, 27, of Mosley Place, East Dry River. However, when the part of the witness’ evidence on which Sturge had intended to base his submission was read back to him by the note-taker, he (Sturge) admitted that he had misinterpreted the evidence and as a result, could no longer make his submission. The matter had earlier been stood down twice: the first time, to await the arrival of Sturge and the second time, to have copies made of the document, which was intended to be used by the defence attorney in his submission.

Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls then informed Riley of the committal of the matter to the High Court. Riley was charged with the April 18 murder of teenager Jerome Jamal. Jamal, of Gonzales Terrace, Gonzales was shot while he was asleep in his home. Sgt Sylvester, the officer who had charged Riley, was the last of the 15 State witnesses called by prosecutor Marissa Gomez. Sylvester gave evidence on October 17.