Court hears how victim lost his head

Kern Romaine and Trevis Ali are alleged to have killed Jerry "Nigel" Ballah. They are before Justice Malcolm Holdip in the First Criminal Assize Court.

In opening the case, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (South), Joan Honore-Paul, told a 12-member jury that on October 16, 2002, labourer Ashton Pierre was working on a farm at Sunrees Road, Penal, where he discovered a human skull with a gold tooth. The rest of the body, which was identified as Ballah, was recovered a short distance away from the head. An autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre revealed that Ballah died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Honore-Paul told the jury that they would hear evidence from the State’s main witness — Kendall Agostini. Agostini, the prosecutor said, went out with accused Romaine and Ali on October 12, 2002, and picked up the deceased at Forres Park, Claxton Bay. They then went to a recreation ground in Penal.

Honore-Paul said that while there, Romaine, Ali and Ballah walked up a hill. Agostini, the prosecutor said, is expected to testify that while the three were on the hill, he heard a gunshot and, minutes later, only accused Romaine and Ali walked down the hill.

Agostini, the prosecutor said, is alleged to have seen the two accused throw tyres and gasoline on Ballah’s body. They then set it alight. The prosecutor said that Ali is alleged to have cut Ballah’s head from the burnt corpse and given it to Romaine.

The trial continues today at 9 am.