Blind father on trial for killing son

A Blind father who is charged with the unlawful killing of his son will go on trial tomorrow. In a bid to stop the trial of accused Ashley Lee Kim, attorney Keith Scotland had made an application before Justice Mel-ville Baird to quash the indictment on the grounds that there was no evidence to prove that Lee Kim killed his son. But yesterday, Baird turned down Scotland’s application, and agreed with senior State prosecutor Trevor Ward that a prima facie case had been made out against Lee Kim.

Justice Baird then set the trial date for April 7 in the Port-of-Spain First Assizes. Scotland had asked the court last week to stay the indictment against the 67-year-old Lee Kim, who allegedly killed his son with a “peera” (very low bench). Scotland claimed that there was no evidence against Lee Kim to prove he caused the death of  his son, and said that in such circumstances the court should quash the indictment.

To do otherwise would be an abuse of the process of the court, he contended. Lee Kim was committed to stand trial on a manslaughter charge for the unlawful killing of his 24-year-old son Wayne Lee Kim at their Macoya home on March 6, 2001. Prosecutor  Ward did not share Scotland’s view and encouraged the court to let the jury decide the case.