Red Fete murder inquiry put off again

FOR THE fourth consecutive time, the inquiry into the murder of Kevin Cato was adjourned without the evidence of the four witnesses being taken. This time, it was as a result of the accused, PC Dave Burnett, contracting chicken pox. When the matter was called at 1 pm at the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court yesterday, it was adjourned to April 21 because Burnett was not brought to the St Vincent Street courthouse.

On March 25, Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls had been absent and Clerk of the Peace Eugene Prince had adjourned it to April 1. When it was again called on April 1, Burnett’s attorney, Pamela Elder SC,  had been absent. She had been at Matelot visiting the scene of an unlawful killing for which another one of her clients was subsequently convicted. The murder hearing had then been adjourned to April 7.

On April 7, McNicolls, Elder and Burnett had all been present, but Elder had requested an adjournment because she was not feeling well enough to sit through the hearing. McNicolls had obliged and ordered the witnesses to return to court yesterday, only for them to be informed that the hearing would again be adjourned. Burnett, 30, of St Barb’s Road in Belmont, was charged with Cato’s murder and wounding another man, Ryan Solomon, with the intent to do grievous bodily harm. The indictable charges were laid by Supt Errol Denoon. The offences allegedly took place at the “Outrageous in Red” fete at Pier 1 on January 25.