I chopped my wife and son

It wasn’t until five days later that Cadette was arrested for the double murder. Cadette, 42, was beaten at Maitagual Road, Petit Bourg, San Juan, which left him with injuries to his head and chin. Although police probed the incident, they did not find out who beat Cadette.

Cpl Hubert Price, who was attached to the San Juan Police Station, told the court yesterday that he responded to a report at Maitagual Road. On arrival there, he saw Cadette sitting at the side of the road. He approached the accused and told him of a report that he murdered his wife and son in Diego Martin.

Cadette replied, "Is me who kill meh wife Grace and meh child. I have everything write down on pieces of paper in meh pocket." Price said he searched Cadette’s pocket and found two pieces of brown paper and another item.

The pieces of paper were admitted into evidence and the contents read to the jury. Cadette is before Justice Carmona in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Criminal Court charged with killing his wife and son.

State attorneys Kathy Ann Waterman-Latchoo and Joy Balkaran are prosecuting, while St Clair Douglas and Wendy Dougdeen-Bally are representing Cadette. Hearing resumes this morning. The following is the contents of the pieces of paper found in Cadette’s pocket:

TO THE POLICE:

"I, PETER GARTH CADETTE, of 238 Bittern Blvd, Maloney, being of sound mind, adhere the following:

On Sunday evening around 2 pm, my wife Grace Barbour-Cadette, of LP number 9 Community Lane, Bagatelle, Diego Martin, got into a heated argument. I took out a cutlass only to scare her and she tried to wrestle it out of my hand. I in turn swung the cutlass, try to hit her with the side. However, she got chopped.

I was so upset that I continued to chop her, then our son, Jabari Cadette.

Grace and I got married October 3, 2000. The first three months were okay, she had Jabari on the fourth month. When Jabari was three months old we had an argument in which I called her stupid and immature. She stopped having regular communication with me and I in turn started coming home, drop my bag and go out and smoke a cigarette and talk with the neighbours. Sometimes I will drink a Stag then come home.

By this time, Grace and I hadn’t had sex in over six months. She was very cold, no hugs, no kisses, we slept with our backs to each other month after month. By the eighth month, I discovered her ex-boyfriend’s phone number in her pocket while washing clothes. She said that the number was another man called Phillip.

On Sundays, she would tell me she will be back, she’s going out. Each Sunday for four weeks straight she left and came back a few hours later while I watched the baby. On the tenth month, my wife told me that she never wanted to have sex with me again. I asked her is it because you are now sleeping with your ex-boyfriend. She said no, it’s because she thinks that I am having an affair.

But I wasn’t and never had been unfaithful in our marriage. Two months later, I couldn’t take it anymore and I packed my bags and left, that was October 31, 2001. Her family was not happy that I moved out and told her all kind of things about me. I told Grace that even though I moved out, I will not neglect my family, she and Jabari. I gave money for pampers, milk, and whatever else she needed.

I explained to her that we are now separated and we have no intentions of getting back together. Therefore, I want to pick up my son on the weekends and establish a relationship with him and for you not to be present during my visits. However, each weekend I’ll come for my son and she will be dressed ready to go.

Every time she came along we’ll end up in an argument about whose fault it was that the marriage failed. I told her on the third month after I left that I am moving on with my life and I won’t be coming back to see you.

She asked if I was going to neglect our child and I told her no. I asked her to open an account in the bank and I will deposit money for Jabari in it.

She said if I stopped supporting him she will take me to court. Next argument.

I told her I will continue to come and see him but I only want to take him and return him at whatever time we agreed upon. She said okay. The following weekend she was dressed and ready to go with the two of us. I told her that she needs to go back home.

She started crying telling me that I didn’t love her and never did. So I invited her to come. We went to Kiddies Carnival in St James and like always an argument broke out while we were in KFC, St James. Every week, same story.

This weekend, I took the cutlass to scare her and tell her to stay home while I spend time with my son. But it got ugly."