Court hears how 3 accused were arrested for Cascade murders

As the Cascade triple murder inquiry resumed yesterday, police investigator Sgt Wayne Dick began his testimony, stating that he assisted with the arrests of the two then suspects sometime after the murders of the three persons. Lead into evidence by State attorney Trevor Ward, Sgt Dick, who indicated that he was then attached to the Special Anti-Crime Unit, said his assistance with the investigations began on December 13, 2001, when he visited the #2 Mt Anne Drive, Cascade house where the murders took place. After receiving instructions from Insp David Nedd, Sgt Dick said that he interviewed several persons in that area and recorded the information. On December 14, 2001, Sgt Dick said his investigations led him to a place at Jacob Hill in Wallerfield,  where he met with Judy Khan, mother of accused, Daniel Agard.

According to Dick, while there he had a conversation with Khan in which she directed him to a house on Upper Bushe Street in Maitagual, San Juan. On arriving at the house, the assistant police investigator said he met a woman named Jamie Agard, who identified herself as the sister of accused Daniel Agard. After having a conversation with her, Sgt Dick said arrangements were made with them to have Agard contact him. Later that day, according to Sgt Dick’s testimony, he received a call on his cell phone. “It was a male voice and the person identified himself as Daniel Agard,” said the police officer. After receiving the phone call, Sgt Dick said he met with Insp Nedd at the Homicide office in Port-of-Spain. Following their meeting, the two officers travelled in separate cars and went to the Upper Bushe Street House which Dick had earlier visited.

“On arrival there, I saw the accused (Daniel Agard) in the company of his sister, Jamie. He identified himself as the person who had called earlier on my cell phone. I then identified myself displaying my police ID. I told him that I was assisting with the investigations of the three murders and that he was a suspect,” said Sgt Dick yesterday. According to Sgt Dick’s testimony, Agard was cautioned by Insp Nedd, arrested and taken to the Police Homicide Department. The following day, Agard was interviewed by Insp Nedd who took notes of the interview. Sgt Dick also testified yesterday that his investigations resulted in the seizure of several electronic items which were believed to have been taken from the Croppers’ residence after the murders.

According to Dick, after receiving information on December 18, 2001, he went to the home of Shawn Joseph on Upper Bushe Street in Maitagual, where he was handed a Goldstar television and video set. After collecting the electronics, Dick said as he journeyed higher up Bushe Street, a person named Darryl Mc Donald approached him. After directing him to some bushes, Dick said he was handed a Panasonic TV, a remote control, cable box and a universal remote control. A laptop computer was also recovered at the home of Christopher Calendar on Upper Hillside Crescent in Mt Hope. All items listed by the assistant investigator were brought to court and identified as those mentioned.

According to Sgt Dick, Agard’s co-accused, Lester Pitman, was picked up by investigating officers on December 19 at about 7 am. In his testimony yesterday, Sgt Dick said after receiving information, he went to Upper Bushe Street in Maitagual again, where he saw Pitman standing in the road with relatives. “After identifying myself, I told him that I was assisting with the investigations of three murders in Cascade, and that he was a suspect,” said the assistant investigator. Pitman, he said, was then arrested and held for questioning. Hearing resumes today.