Cop gave accused a box of chicken

JUSTICE OF THE Peace Mottley DePeza on Friday told the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court that he was not aware that murder accused Keston Edwards had been taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital or that an x-ray of Edwards was taken.

He also stated, under cross-examination by defence attorney Dawn Mohan, that he was not aware that Edwards had been taken to the crime scene at Fort Picton, Laventille to point out certain areas to police officers following the incident which claimed the life of Kwesi “Chin” Kemkaran in February 2002. Edwards, 17, of Picton Road, Laventille is before Justice Baird charged with murdering Kemkaran, 19, while he was liming with some friends sometime between February 16 and 17, 2002, at Fort Picton, Picton Road, Laventille.

In his evidence before the court, including the 12-member jury and two alternates, comprised of eight men and seven women, De Peza explained that around 1 pm on February 17, he was called to the police station where he was introduced to Edwards, Edwards’ uncle, Sgt Hackett and Ins Martinez. He said he asked Martinez to speak to the accused and he left the room. He asked the accused if the police officers had beaten him and he said no. He also asked Edwards if he was hungry and Edwards answered “yes.” He said he called back the officers into the room and told them what Edwards had said. De Peza said a box of chicken and a soft drink were ordered and given to the accused.

After eating, Hackett cautioned Edwards and proceeded to take a statement from him. He said that prior to taking the statement Hackett asked Edwards if he wanted to write the statement for himself or if he wanted him (Hackett) to record it for him. He said Edwards responded, “You do it nah.” De Peza said he told Edwards to sign the pages of the statement. He also explained that Hackett had told Edwards to write the certificate at the end of the statement from the judge’s rule. DePeza said that after witnessing the recording of the first statement he was taken back home. He said he was called back to the station at around 5 pm on that day to record a second statement. He said the two statements were witnessed and signed by himself and Edwards’ uncle.  The matter continued yesterday.