POLICE TOLD ME TO LIE AT MURDER TRIAL

The witness, Steve Berkeley, a confessed drug addict and prison inmate, said yesterday that he decided to change his testimony because he had become a Christian and it was bothering his conscience. He also told the court that Ghatt had promised to help him with drug cases he had before the court in return for his "fabricated" testimony.

However, Ghatt, who retired with an unblemished record from the Police Service several years ago as a senior superintendent in charge of Homicide Division, vehemently denied the allegation and set out his version of the events in an affidavit.

Special State prosecutor Dana Seetahal is trying to prove to the court that Berkeley was now lying and trying to implicate Ghatt. On the other side, Gregory Delzin, instructed by Ravi Hefees Doon, appeared for Taylor, while Ravi Rajcoomar and Reah Sookhai are representing Parris. The court panel are Justices Stanley John (president), Ivor Archie and Paula Mae Weekes.

According to the evidence at the trial, Berkeley was the driver of the vehicle that brought the victim to Cocoyea Village, San Fernando, where Taylor and Parris shot Gittens as he left a parlour.

Although both men had exhausted all of their appeals, they had petitioned President George Maxwell Richards, claiming that new evidence had come to light which would exonerate them. Richards referred the matter to the Court of Appeal.

Berkeley admitted yesterday that he was a PH driver from Laventille who knew both men. He was also in the habit of being hired by Taylor.

He admitted to the Court of Appeal that although he did not know Ghatt before, Ghatt told him to "lie on the accused." Ghatt, he said, told him what to do and what to say about the murder case.

He acknowledged that he had cases for cocaine, stealing an ambulance tyre, and receiving stolen goods.

Berkeley said before and after the trial, while he was in Remand Yard for drug offences, he spoke to Taylor who was on Death Row.

He said he was outside in the "Yard" and he heard Taylor call to him from about 35 feet above from his "burglar-proofed" cell. He said he told Taylor, "I am sorry what happened. I told him I will now speak the truth."

Berkeley said that he is no longer a drug addict, and that he has been on recovery for more than six years.

Hearing in the matter will continue on October 25.