Cocorite man freed of murder

IN AN ironic twist, a Cocorite man, charged with the murder of a Laventille pensioner was yesterday freed of the charge, days after the State had rejected his guilty plea to manslaughter. However, his alleged accomplice, who had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, had his plea accepted and is now awaiting sentencing. Clive “Begs” Sandy and another man, Anthony Joseph, had been jointly charged with the  January 25, 2002 murder of 75-year-old George Fletcher. Fletcher, of Upper Thomasine Street in Laventille, received stabs to the left side of his chest during a fight with Sandy, who had made an unauthorised entry into his (Fletcher’s) home. He later died at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Joseph had allegedly acted as the “lookout” on the day in question, and had waited outside the house.

Both men had pleaded guilty to manslaughter on October 18, but the State, represented by attorney Jeron Joseph, had accepted Joseph’s plea and rejected Sandy’s. Joseph will be sentenced on October 28. Sandy, of Harding Place in Cocorite, went on trial before Madame Justice Paula Mae Weekes at the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court. He was yesterday acquitted when Weekes upheld the submission by Sandy’s attorney Pamela Elder SC that while her client did not deny stabbing Fletcher, he had acted in self-defence. According to Weekes, the State did not negate Sandy’s claim of self-defence and there were several questionable issues regarding the evidence of the granddaughter of the deceased, Kelly-Ann Thomas. Thomas was the only eyewitness.

Weekes said during the witness’ evidence-in-chief, she (Thomas) said she had not seen when Sandy pulled out his knife, but later, under cross-examination, said that she had seen him draw the knife when he realised Fletcher was armed with a cutlass. In addition, Weekes said, Thomas could not say what had happened to the cutlass after she had given it to her grandfather, and had no idea the accused had sustained a wound on his left palm during the struggle. “Justice must be served according to the law and not according to justice of the streets,” the judge said, and instructed the jury to return a not guilty verdict. A relieved Sandy told reporters he had been incarcerated for exactly two years, three months,  three days and ten hours — an experience that was sheer hell. He thanked God for his freedom and severely criticised the prison system for fostering hate and animosity. He also extended an apology to the family of the deceased.