‘Skelly’ trial adjourned

THE murder trial of Sheldon Lovel alias ‘Skelly,’ Shawn Vicent alias ‘Gumbo,’ and Brent Danglade alias ‘Small Brent’, was adjourned yesterday for the sixth time, because the state witness in the matter could not be located.

The witness, Joel Phillips, of Eastern Main Road, Laventille, was scheduled to give evidence yesterday before Madame Justice Alice Yorke-Soo Hon.

The three are accused of the 28th December 2002 murder of Curepe businessman Dennis Jodhan.

Jodhan, a father of two was kidnapped late December 2002, and his body found in Aranguez on December 28, 2002.

An autopsy revealed that he died after choking on his own vomit.

Yesterday, Alexander Prince, appearing for the State told Justice Soo Hon that last Friday he received information on the whereabouts of the main witness.

The Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Hende-son communicated with an Assistant Commissioner of Police on the matter, and efforts were being made to locate him.

He asked for a month’s adjournment.

Senior Counsel Rangee Dolsingh, appearing on behalf of the three accused told the judge that the three men have been in custody for the past three years.

He added that the matter was called five times in the High Court and each time the prosecution was not ready.

“This is a serious charge and justice must be done, how long must this go on?” he asked.

Dolsingh then asked the judge to dismiss the charges against all three accused.

He also added that any further adjournment would not serve any useful purpose to the court.

In response, Justice Soo Hon told the prosecution to try and locate the witness and said she was placing the matter on a cause list for July 6. Accused Lovel shouted as he was being escorted out of the court, “there is no justice here and the State is coming up with the same excuse.”