Stabbing victim: All this not called for

“ALL THIS was not called for,” were the words stabbing victim Dexter Seetahal said to his alleged murderer, while lying on the ground bleeding profusely. This is according to a statement murder accused Selwyn Cooper allegedly gave to police and which was read yesterday to a jury hearing his murder trial in the San Fernando Criminal Assizes. The statement was admitted into evidence during the testimony of Cooper’s sister, Christine, who was a witness for the State. Cooper is on trial for murdering Seetahal over a $20 loan the victim owed him.

The accused said he saw Seetahal, whom he knew as “Blacks,” coming down the road and asked him for $20, which Seetahal owed him. In his statement, Cooper said, “He start to rail up for me. He pull a knife for me and had it in he right hand. I take the knife from him and he ‘chook’ me off with his left hand. I take the knife from him and I fire a stab at him and caught him in his neck.” The accused’s sister said she noticed her brother had a cut on his hand and on his knee, which he had sustained during the struggle with Seetahal. The case continues today.