Murder accused didn’t mean to kill wife, son

When Anisa Alexis asked him why he killed the baby, Cadette replied, "well, with the mother dead and the father in jail, he didn’t want anyone telling his son that his father killed his mother."

Cadette said he asked his wife Grace about her ex-boyfriend’s telephone number in her pocket. The accused complained that Grace was not taking him on. She was laughing, so he got in a rage and "chopped her up."

Cadette is before Justice Anthony Carmona in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Criminal Court charged with 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. Hearing resumes on Tuesday.

Alexis, of Mount D’Or Road, Champs Fleurs, works as a clerk typist with the Ministry of Health, based at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.

Alexis said she met Cadette in 1999 when they both worked at Royal Castle, Alyce Glenn, Petit Valley. She was a general assistant, and Cadette was a cook. Cadette left the job in January 2000 and Alexis did likewise in August 2000.

Alexis told the jury that she saw Cadette on several occasions. She remembered seeing him on Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, in 2001. They were good friends and she considered him as a brother. They confided in each other.

Alexis said she told the accused that her mother was selling her house at Clifton Street, East Dry River, but so far, no one had bought it. She decided to rebuild the house and she was looking for someone to help her build.

According to the witness, Cadette agreed to assist her.

They made arrangements to meet the next Saturday to start the construction process.

Alexis said Cadette was in charge of building the house. He agreed to work on the house on weekends as he was holding down a construction job "down the islands."

On March 10, 2002, Alexis met Cadette in Laventille, just after he got a haircut. Cadette was carrying a white bag with a cutlass. Cadette said he had the cutlass to clear bush where he was building the house.

Cadette also told Alexis that he was planning to visit a female friend to have lunch.

She did not see him again that day. Three days later, Alexis said Cadette called her on the telephone. He said, "don’t ask any questions."

Cadette, according to Alexis, asked her to come to the last gas station in Mt Hope, bring some clothes and something to eat.

Alexis got clothes from the three garbage bags which Cadette had left at her home.

Alexis travelled into Port-of-Spain, withdrew money from a bank, and bought something for Cadette to eat. She then went to the gas station where Cadette directed her to go.

Alexis met Cadette and they walked along Mt Hope Road to a culvert near a closed down shop.

"I gave him the clothes and food.

"We started to talk and I asked him if he really killed his wife and child. He said he did not really mean to kill his wife and son. I told him he didn’t have to kill the baby."

Cadette then said, "Well, with the mother dead and the father in jail, he didn’t want anyone telling his son that his father killed his mother."

Alexis said Cadette asked his wife about her ex-boyfriend’s telephone number in her pocket. But Cadette said his wife was not taking him on and she was laughing. He got in a rage and chopped her.

He said he really took out the cutlass to frighten her.

He had intended to planasse her. Alexis said she stayed with Cadette for 30 to 45 minutes before they both boarded a maxi-taxi headed for Port-of-Spain.

Cadette dropped out at Bushe Street, while Alexis went home.

Alexis said she saw the accused again at the West End Police Station.

Under cross-examination by St Clair Douglas, Alexis said she and Cadette were not involved in a relationship. She will be further cross-examined on Tuesday.