Coast Guardsman in court for killing friend

Williams, of Tacarigua, appeared before Magistrate Lianne Lee Kim in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Magistrates’ Court to answer the charge. Dressed in a navy blue suit, Williams stood expressionless in the dock when the charge was read to him.

Lee Kim told Williams that the charge was laid indictably, so he could not plead. The charge was laid by Insp George Olivere of the Carenage Police Station.

Williams’ attorney Patrick Godson-Phillips then took a dig at the media. He said the question of pre-trial publicity and sensational reporting seem to be one of the grave concerns of the Judiciary.

Godson-Phillips said from time to time, matters which were subjudice before the courts were aired on talk shows with people expressing their opinions.

"Media practitioners should behave in a certain way. There is a perception that if the matter goes before a jury, jurors may have heard and read so much, that it may be difficult to disabuse their minds. Journalists should balance the way they report and avoid the concept of pre-trial publicity," Godson-Phillips stated as he turned around to look at members of the media sitting in court.

However, Lee Kim said journalists have a duty to report proceedings in court. "The journalists we have here are seasoned journalists. They should know the difference between sensational journalism and reporting court cases."

Lee Kim then remanded Williams in custody to October 19.

Williams and Hodge joined the Coast Guard as Ordinary Seamen at the same time last year, and were good friends.

Last Friday, Hodge was shot dead in the dormitory at Staubles Bay. A post-mortem performed on Monday by pathologist Dr Hughvon des Vignes revealed that Hodge had been shot through the upper lip and the bullet exited at the top of the head.

Hodge, 20, will be buried at the Military Cemetery, Long Circular Road, St James, today, after a funeral service at the Church of the Assumption, Maraval, beginning at 10 am.