Man freed of Diego murder

Cudjoe, of Pelham Street, Belmont, was before Justice Malcolm Holdip in the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court charged with the murder of Kevin Sargeant on December 24, 2002, at Patna Village, Diego Martin.

When the case was called yesterday, State attorney Cheron Raphael informed the court that prior to the trial, she reviewed the original statement and deposition of the main prosecution witness Carl Richards. Raphael said she also interviewed Richards, who is in prison awaiting trial on a serious charge.

During that meeting, Raphael said Richards made certain utterances to her. As a result, she went to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson, where she obtained instructions in the case.

Raphael told the court that based on the utterances and the inconsistencies in the original statement and the evidence which Richards gave at the preliminary inquiry at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court, the State would not be able to put forward Richards as a credible witness worthy of belief.

Raphael told the court that the State was offering no evidence against Cudjoe, who was represented by attorneys Ulric Skerritt and Dawn Mohan.

In response, Holdip commended Raphael for the stance she took. He said the State could have continued with the case, and it would have fallen through. He said the State took the initiative and stopped the case.

Holdip then turned to the accused and told him he was free to go. Cudjoe left the dock and 20 minutes later emerged from the Hall of Justice with two bags.

According to the evidence at the preliminary inquiry, Sargeant was at Cadiz Bar, North Post Road, Patna Village, Diego Martin, on Christmas Eve, 2002, engaged in a game of cards with several men.

At about 7 pm, Cudjoe allegedly entered the bar with a white handkerchief covering the lower part of his face, walked up to the table where Sargeant was seated, pulled out a gun and fired two shots at Sargeant from close range. Cudjoe turned and ran out of the bar.

Sargeant got up and staggered to the toilet area where he collapsed and subsequently died. A post-mortem revealed that Sargeant died from shock and haemorrhage as a result of gunshot injuries.

Cudjoe was arrested on January 29, 2003.