Don’t be like Pontius Pilate

THE JURors in the Clint Huggins murder trial were told yesterday by defence attorney Keith Scotland not to behave like  ancient Roman governor Pontius Pilate who allowed Christ to be crucified knowing him to be innocent.

Scotland’s remarks came during his closing address to the 12-member jury in the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court. The jurors will decide the fate of three men - Arnold Huggins, his cousin Leslie Huggins  and friend Junior “Heads” Phillip - who are charged with the murder of Clint Huggins.

Scotland, who represents Leslie Huggins, told the jury: “Don’t be  a Pontius Pilate and wash your hands and say you’re going to convict. You must not be influenced by anybody telling you yea or nay.” He told the jury if they focused on the evidence and forgot any bias, they would have no trouble in finding Leslie not guilty. He said there were  too many inconsistencies in the State’s case to be sure of  guilt and the jury should therefore return a not guilty verdict in favour of Leslie Huggins.   Scotland further submitted that the only evidence against Leslie Huggins was the testimony of his common-law-wife Swarsattie Maharaj and he suggested that her evidence was destroyed under cross-examination. “You must believe Leslie when he said it never happened,” Scotland said.

He said it was not inconceivable that Clint left the army’s custody and went on his own agenda, that “he wanted to escape. “Look at the trouble he went through - jumping out of an army jeep and running down a maxi taxi. Didn’t Clint really have his own plan when he borrowed the Laurel to go on his own mission? If he just wanted to see Leslie he could have asked the army to take him as they did before. No! He had his own mission.” Scotland was the second attorney to address the jury. Ian  Stuart Brooks, who represents Arnold Huggins,  made his address on Monday.

Today, when hearing resumes,  Osbourne Charles SC, who represents Phillip, will make his remarks to  the jury, which are expected to last a day. Then trial judge Justice Alice Yorke Soo-Hon,  will call on prosecutor Wayne Rajbansie to give his summation. The trio are alleged to have accepted a $3 million contract to kill Clint Huggins, a key witness against Dole Chadee and his gang for murder. Huggins was killed during the early morning of Carnival Tuesday, February 20, 1996, on the Uriah Butler Highway, Mt Hope.