Murder accused testifies

MURDER ACCUSED Arnold Huggins yesterday testified that Tunapuna police officers beat and terrorized him into giving a statement in November 1999, after he was arrested for the murder of State witness Clint Huggins. Arnold was at the time testifying in his own defence before High Court Judge Alice Yorke-Soo Hon in the Port-of-Spain Third Assize court where he is jointly charged with Leslie Huggins and Junior Phillips, for the murder of Clint Huggins on February 20, 1996.

The State closed its case yesterday after taking testimony from 27 witnesses in the trial. Arnold told the court that he did not kill nor was he involved in any plot to kill Clint Huggins and that he believed  the State’s main witness Swarsattee “Sattie” Maharaj, testified against him because he had refused to “take her back after their split in September 1996”. He said that she also believed that he was “with her for her inheritance money”. He yesterday stated that on November 12, 1999, he was taken to the Tunapuna Police Station and placed in a cell to the back of the sentry post. Sometime later he was handcuffed and taken from the cell by two police officers in plain clothes to a room to the Eastern end of the station and questioned about his involvement in Clint’s murder.

He told the officers that he did not know anything about the murder and was slapped on the right side of his neck. He said that went on for about half and hour. He also testified that he was hit on the head by one of the officers with a station note book about 2 inches thick. He said a document, which was partly hidden was pushed in his direction and he was told that they had information that he had shot and burnt Clint. He again denied that information. He was then taken back to his cell. However, the procedure was repeated about four times.  On the fourth occasion he was taken to a corridor on the western side of the building and ordered to lie on the ground. One of the officers placed his feet on his (Arnold’s) back, while the other officer ordered him to take off his shoes and raise his legs. He was then beaten on the soles of his feet with a broken cue stick. One of the officers then told him to stand and pushed him against the wall with his hands placed at the  base of his throat and chest, while the other officer hit him in his stomach with a gun butt that was wrapped in a wet towel. He was then placed back in his cell.

A short while after he asked that his mother be called. However the officer on sentry stated that he was told not to do anything for the prisoner. At about 1.30 pm, he was again taken out of his cell and taken to another room where he was introduced to Superintendent Stephen Quashie. He said he told Quashie that he was beaten by the officers. He was again questioned about Clint’s death and denied any knowledge of the murder. Following the interview with Quashie, Arnold said he was taken back to his cell and given two coconut rolls and a Chubby and around 11 pm a box of Royal Castle chicken was brought to him. He was again taken to a room and interviewed by Quashie. He said that he agreed to give the statement because he believed that was the only way the assault and abuse would end. He testified that Justice of the Peace Ackbar Khan arrived and witnessed the statement being taken. He also stated that he was officially charged for the offence on November 15.