Brothers freed of Maracas murder

THE SON of a murdered Maracas resident yesterday stated that “there was no justice” in the trial into his father’s murder, after the judge directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict against the two men charged for the murder.

Speaking to reporters after the verdict, Nigel Ramnath said the verdict was “craziness” and stated that “it is just a matter of time ....” but did not finish his comment as he was escorted away by a relative. The not guilty verdict was delivered as a result of State attorney Angelica Teelucksingh’s declaration that the State was unable to proceed with the case. She explained that the evidence of its main witness, Kern Applewhite, raised doubt as to whether the Bryan brothers were responsible for the fall that caused the victim’s death. In his deposition, Forensic Pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes stated death was due to head injuries sustained when Noreiga fell on the road on the night of the incident. Christopher Bryan, 25 and his younger brother Dominic Bryan, 19, appeared before High Court Judge Paula Mae Weekes in the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court charged with murdering St Joseph resident Claude “Mice” Noreiga.

Noreiga, 69, was beaten by the duo in front of Acono bar at Maracas St Joseph on August 26, 2001, and died two days later at the hospital. Applewhite, who had witnessed the incident, told the court on Tuesday that he saw one of the brothers hit Noreiga from behind causing him to fall on the road, but stated he could not say which one of them had done it. However, under re-examination by Teelucksingh, Applewhite stated that he had assumed the men had hit Noreiga since Noreiga fell down just as the men came up behind him. When the matter resumed yesterday, Teelucksingh explained that the State had initially considered calling Dr Des Vignes to testify, but in light of his deposition which states that death was due to head injuries sustained in the fall, they no longer wished to call him as a witness.

Teelucksingh also explained that she had not led any evidence to link the accused to the head injuries sustained by Noreiga and informed the court that the State had no further evidence to put forward. She then asked the judge to direct the jury to return a not guilty verdict against the brothers. In directing the jury to return the not guilty verdict, Justice Weekes explained the inconsistencies between Applewhite’s testimony and the deposition of Dr Des Vignes and the implication that it had on the case. On hearing that his sons were freed of the murder charge, Martin Bryan stated that now that everything was over he hoped that there would be healing and peace. He also told reporters that the incident had caused pain to his family and the family of the deceased. The Bryan brothers were represented by attorneys Theodore Guerra SC and Richard Mason.