Diego teens to stand trial for killing student

A marathon sitting by Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls on Wednesday at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court ended with two teenagers being committed to stand trial for murder at the next sitting of the Assizes, after it was found that a prima facie case had been made out against them. The two young men are 18-year-old Stephen Emery and 19-year-old Kemble Lazarus, both of Covigne Road, Diego Martin. They are both charged for the murder of 16-year-old Stellon Davis, a Diego Martin student who was found dead in December of last year. The proceedings, which got underway at approximately 1.45 pm, ended at about 8 pm after Mc Nicolls had heard evidence from three final witnesses called by the prosecution. The witnesses included the complainant, Cpl Brian Marcell of the West End Police Station and Homicide Bureau officer Cpl Forde.

Hired by the Davis family was attorney Keith Scotland, who was granted a fiat by the Director of Public Prosecutions to lead the prosecution on January 28. Attorney Tricia Hudlin of the DPP’s office was also a part of the prosecuting team. Attorney Richard Mason appeared on behalf of Emery, while Hayden St Clair appeared for Lazarus. After the court heard the evidence of some 13 witnesses, Scotland submitted that there was sufficient evidence to commit the young men to stand trial for murder. The members of the defence team declined to respond to Scotland’s submission, following which the magistrate ruled in favour of the prosecution, and upheld Scotland’s submission. The court heard that sometime between December 12 and 15, Emery and Lazarus murdered Davis of Palm Avenue, Petit Valley.

Davis’ bound and gagged body was found in a shallow grave in a bamboo track on Covigne Road. Speaking to Newsday yesterday father of the dead 16-year-old boy, who declined to give his name, told Newsday he was pleased that justice had prevailed in such a short space of time. “Justice has been served at this point. It has been a rather emotional time for us because we have lost a loved one. Mr Scotland has done a good job,” Davis’ father said. Emery, who is 18 years old was remanded to the Youth Training Facility while his co-accused, Lazarus, was remanded to the Maximum Security Prison.