Murder accused drew sketch of crime scene

The sketch was tendered into evidence yesterday and shown to the 12-member jury and two alternates.

Lead investigator Insp Anthony Lezama told the court that Cadette volunteered the sketch. He said he asked Cadette for a statement concerning the killings, but the accused also drew the sketch and handed it to him.

Cadette is before Justice Anthony Carmona in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Criminal Court charged with the murder of his wife Grace Barbour-Cadette and one-year-old son Jabari on March 10, 2002, at Roxborough Street, Diego Martin.

State attorneys Kathy-Ann Waterman-Latchoo and Joy Balkaran are prosecuting, while Hayden St Clair Douglas and Wendy Dougdeen-Bally appear for Cadette.

When hearing resumed yesterday, Lezama continued his examination-in-chief. He said Cadette, who was brought to the West End Police Station on March 15, 2002, offered to write his own statement detailing how he killed his wife and son.

Lezama said when Cadette was finished, he decided to ask the accused some questions. He wrote ten questions to which Cadette replied. At the end of this, Lezama said Cadette took another sheet of paper from his desk and drew a sketch of the area where the killings took place.

Based on the information he received from the sketch, Lezama said he returned to the scene of the killings.

He went to a small garden at the end of Roxborough Street and, during a search, he found a black ladies handbag.

Lezama returned to the police station and showed the bag and contents to the accused. He identified the bag as the bag which his wife had in her possession on the day he chopped and killed her and their son. He admitted throwing the bag in the garden before leaving.

Later that day, Lezama said Grace’s sister Mary Barbour came to the police station and identified the bag and contents.

Lezama said that on March 17, 2002, he saw Insp Henry at the police station. He then spoke to the accused and told him that he had just been positively identified by a witness on an identification parade, and that he (Lezama) was going to charge him with the murders of his wife and son. Lezama cautioned the accused once again and Cadette replied, "I done tell all yuh everything what happen." Lezama then charged Cadette with the murders.

Asked about the condition of the track leading to where the bodies were found, Lezama said it appeared to be hardly used as it was very bushy.

Under cross-examination by St Clair Douglas, Lezama said when Cadette was detained at the police station, he informed the prisoner of his right to a lawyer, relatives or friends.

He said he was not aware that a lawyer turned up at the station seeking to speak with the prisoner.

Lezama found that Cadette was cooperative while in custody.

Asked if Cadette was volunteering information, Lezama said the only thing he volunteered was the sketch he drew.

Hearing resumes this morning.