Accused tried to hang himself

Making that revelation yesterday was Sgt Ancil Corbett of the Homicide Bureau during his testimony before Justice Anthony Carmona in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Criminal Court.

Cadette, 42, is charged with the murder of his wife Grace Balbour-Cadette and his son Jabari, one, on March 10, 2002, at Roxborough Street, Diego Martin.

State attorneys Kathy-Ann Waterman-Latchoo and Joy Balkaran are prosecuting, while Hayden St Clair Douglas and Wendy Dougdeen-Bally are representing Cadette. Hearing resumes this morning. Corbett said that on March 10, 2002, he went to the West End Police Station in Diego Martin where he had a conversation with Insp Anthony Lezama.

He then went to an area off Roxborough Street where certain things were pointed out to him.

Corbett said that on March 15, 2002, he was on enquiries with other detectives when he went to the Casualty Department of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. He met Lezama there and a man whom he identified as Cadette sitting on a chair.

He said Lezama told Cadette that he was investigating the deaths of mother and son in Diego Martin. Cadette replied, "I who kill my wife and son that Sunday." Lezama then asked Cadette about a circular mark around his neck. The accused replied, "I got that when I tried to hang myself after that Sunday."

Lezama then asked him about injuries to his chin and at the back of his head. Cadette responded, "I got that when the villagers in Maitagual beat me earlier tonight."

Corbett said Cadette was examined at the hospital and given tablets. Nurses dressed the wound on Cadette’s head before he was taken to the West End Police Station.

Corbett said he returned to the police station the next day where Lezama reminded Cadette that he was investigating the deaths of mother and son. The officer informed the accused of his rights and privileges, to which Cadette replied, "My mother and my family are in the United States and my sister Carol already know I am here."

Lezama asked Cadette for a statement to which the accused said no problem. Cadette volunteered to write his own statement. He started at 11 am, but 25 minutes later he stopped and asked for a cup of coffee. At midday, someone brought lunch and a soft drink for the accused, but he was not ready for the meal.

After writing eight or nine pages, Cadette said he was finished. Corbett said he took Cadette to the bathroom after which he offered him a lunch of macaroni pie, chicken, rice and salad.

A woman identified as Anisa Alexis came to the police station and spoke with the accused. She later identified a pair of trousers.

Cadette also took a piece of paper and drew a sketch of the area where the killings took place. The statement was admitted into evidence, but will be read to the jury when hearing resumes this morning.

Yesterday, Mary Barbour, the dead woman’s sister, was recalled for further cross-examination by St Clair Douglas. She said when Cadette first started living at her family’s home in Bagatelle, Diego Martin, the relationship between him and her sister was good.

But it started to deteriorate as Cadette started to complain. "He was complaining that she was not greeting him at the door with a kiss. He complained about everything she did, everything was a problem. The impression he gave was that my sister did not treat him right. He was very demanding. I don’t know what he was expecting."

Barbour said the relationship turned bad four months after they got married.