No hearing as accused falls ill

There was no hearing in the Cascade triple murder trial yesterday as one of the accused was reportedly ill and had to be taken to hospital. The announcement was made mere moments before the trial was due to continue before Justice Herbert Volney. Making the announcement was Attorney Mario Merritt, who told the court that his client, Daniel Agard, was in no position to sit in on the day’s proceedings. As a result, Justice Volney informed the defence attorneys present, that in all fairness, he would grant time for the accused to be taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he would be able to receive medical attention.

Volney also announced that the matter would be adjourned to today, and therefore the jurors would have the entire day to conduct personal matters. The judge also told the attorneys present that today’s proceedings may go on longer than usual as he hoped for the trial to end by next Friday. Twenty-one-year old Daniel Agard and 25-year-old Lester Pitman are on trial for the murders of Agricultural Consultant, John Cropper, Maggie Lee, and Lynette Pearson. The three were murdered sometime between December 11 and 13, 2001 at Cropper’s Cascade home.