Skelly gets a hug for Christmas

IN KEEPING with the spirit of Christmas, Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls yesterday allowed murder and kidnapping accused Sheldon “Skelly” Lovell and Shawn “Gumbo” Vincent to shake hands with family members and embrace their girlfriends at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Eighth Court.

The request was made by Lovell following an adjournment of the hearing to December 30, when he realised that he would not be seeing his mother and girlfriend again until after Christmas day. The only witness to give evidence in the murder matter, Sgt Dave Hilaire of the Police Headquarters, Port-of-Spain, was examined by State attorney Debby-Ann Bassaw and cross- examined by defence attorneys Rangee Dolsingh and Patrick Godson-Phillip.

Lovell, Vincent and Brent “Small Brent” Danglade were jointly charged with the murder of businessman Dennis Persad-Jodhan. Jodhan was kidnapped outside his Evans Street, Curepe, home on December 23, 2002, and his body was found five days later in Aranguez. After the adjournment of that matter, four other men, Rondell Roberts, Brian Charles, Jason Joseph and Richard “Chinee” Kirton joined Lovell, Vincent and Danglade in the prisoner’s dock regarding kidnapping and false imprisonment matters. 

The seven faced separate charges involving the kidnapping of Persad-Jodhan, Port-of-Spain psychologist Ronald John and teenagers Yves Ayoung Chee and Benedict Barrett. John, the brother of former St Joseph MP Carlos John, was rescued from a house in Tunapuna days after his March 26 abduction, when he was snatched outside his Woodbrook home. Ayoung Chee and Barrett, both 18, were kidnapped at Marli Street, Port-of-Spain, and falsely imprisoned at a house at Mon Repos Road, Petit Valley, between July 17 and 26.

That matter was also adjourned to December 30, when the prosecution’s “star witness,” Joel “Footy” Phillips is expected to give evidence. Phillips, who is in protective custody, was scheduled to give evidence on the last nine occasions that the matter was called but he was never brought. This, Dolsingh argued, was “dragging” the case. He requested of McNicolls that he order the prosecution to ensure that all witnesses be brought to the next hearing. The magistrate then gave the adjournment date. As he was being led away, Lovell told McNicolls, “Enjoy your Christmas sir.”