Jury to decide man’s fate

A TALPARO MAN will know his fate today following the judge’s summation of the matter and the jury’s deliberation of the case put before them in the matter in which Talparo resident Ruben John is charged with chopping a co-worker to death on March 18, 1999.

On Wednesday, John took the stand in his defence and told the court that he had acted in self defence when he chopped Michael Estrada in March 1999. John explained that Estrada was armed with a cutlass and had walked up to him and slapped him in his face while holding a cutlass in an upraised position. He stated that he was also armed with a cutlass and fired three chops at Estrada, which resulted in Estrada’s death.

In his evidence in chief yesterday, John explained that around 6.30 am on March 19, 1999, he saw Estrada at the property. He was asking for a cutlass.He said that Estrada then took his bike and returned about 20 minutes later with the cutlass in his hand and parked it at the front door. He said he got his cutlass too and Estrada told him, “if you bad, rush me nah,” and walked away.

He followed Estrada to the back of the yard, and told him, “Michael, you must not get on so, is my bike.” He said that Estrada placed his cutlass on the ground and was washing his foot by the pipe. Estrada was not quarreling at this time. Shortly afterward, Estrada picked up his cutlass and started hitting the grass with it while saying “my mother never mind me.” Estrada then walked towards him and slapped him, and it was at this point that he fired the chops at Estrada.

He also told the court that he has not seen his father Roy Clarke since 1985 and does not know if he is alive today. He also testified that the last time he saw his mother Mary was in 1990, prior to her leaving for the USA. He was told by his grandmother that she had called. That was two days before the incident.

Under cross-examination, John told the court that Estrada’s brother, David, was not working with them in March 1999. He also pointed out that it was unusual to see Michael at the premises on that morning, since he was not working that day.

He also told the court that he used to speak to David about his behaviour, but it was a waste of time, so he started to complain to Michael since he (Michael) was the older of the two. He also told the court that David was the more aggressive of the two. John also explained that he was not sure where Michael had received the first chop.

He said after the first chop Michael made a move to chop him and he fired the second chop at Michael’s neck, but could not say how deep the wound was. When asked if he would accept that the chop was deep enough to go through the skin and muscles to the spinal cord, John said he could accept this as true.

He also explained that when Michael got the second chop, he fell to the ground but he noted that he had already fired the third chop. This one was a “wild” swing and had passed close to Michael’s back.
The matter continues today.