2 State witnesses admit to lying in court

TWO STATE witnesses have admitted to committing perjury last year because their lives had been threatened. 

The first admittance came on Thursday when Anthony Quow, of Upper Pashley Street, Laventille, gave evidence at the inquiry into the April 22, 2003, murder of 22-year-old Andre “X Files” Lindsey. Lindsey of Pump Trace, Laventille, was fatally stabbed outside the National Housing Authority office at Lady Young Avenue, Morvant, where he went to collect his fortnightly wages. Three men, Jimmy “Shabazz” Bournes and his sons Nigel “Dufo” Mayers and Akeido Mayers, were jointly charged with the murder.

The inquiry is being heard by Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls at the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court. Quow, who had given his evidence-in-chief on December 30, 2003, was being cross-examined by defence attorney Joseph Melville when the revelation was made. According to Quow, both he and another witness, Sherwin Griffith, had been threatened into giving evidence against the three accused. Melville had immediately made an application that he be allowed to further cross-examine Griffith, who had given evidence on December 11, 2003. State attorney Natasha George had no objection to the application.

Griffith, of Buller Trace, Pashley Street, Laventille, was yesterday further cross-examined and he too admitted that threats had been made on his life to “persuade” him to give evidence against Bournes and his sons. When asked by Melville why he had lied under oath, Griffith replied, “If I had come forward and told the truth, would you have protected me?” Griffith was charged on January 8 with the January 7 murder of former death row inmate, Rennie Paul. Paul was fatally shot on Pashley Street, Laventille. The matter was adjourned to January 29.