Moruga Murder Trial

Moruga resident Sheldon La Fortune, on trial in the San Fernando High Court for killing Hendrickson McKenzie outside a bar after a card game (whappie), told police he only intended to “planass” (hit with flat side of cutlass) the deceased and not chop him.

La Fortune, 31, also known as “Long” wrote this in a statement to the police. That statement was yesterday read to a 12-member jury and Justice Ian Stuart Brooks. La Fortune is accused of chopping McKenzie, also known as “Popeye,” on his arm outside Wanderers Recreation Club in Basseterre village. The incident took place on December 4, 1999.

The statement was read to the jury during the evidence of Sgt Kazim Ali who testified that he witnessed La Fortune write the statement in a room at the San Fernando Homicide Bureau. In the statement, La Fortune wrote that Mc Kenzie began arguing with him in the whappie room after he said he saw the “cassa” (person in charge of the whappie game) give McKenzie $75.

La Fortune said McKenzie gave the money to the barman. The jury heard that La Fortune told the “cassa” that the barman was not in the bar and that McKenzie had kept the money.

“McKenzie get ignorant and lock my neck and slam (my) head to the wall. After he start choking me,” La Fortune wrote in the statement.

The jury heard that La Fortune stated that McKenzie’s cousin told Mc Kenzie to let go of the accused for fear that he would be killed. McKenzie then “make a release” and La Fortune managed to get away.

The jury heard that La Fortune went for a cutlass under an abandoned house. La Fortune wrote that he saw McKenzie walking towards Lam’s Restaurant and Bar.

“I was walking towards him with the cutlass. He pelt a bottle at me. My intention was to planass him. He brakes from it and I saw blood and I start running. I drop the cutlass and went home,” La Fortune wrote in the statement.

La Fortune is being defended by Nizam Mohammed, instructed by Anuusha Panday. State attorney Aden Stroude is prosecuting. The trial continues today.