Attorney: Witness lying to save his own skin

THE STATE’S main witness in the Tabaquite taxi driver murder trial was accused yesterday of fabricating evidence against murder accused David Donald to shift blame away from himself (the State witness). Donald’s attorney Ernest Koylass put it to State witness Willis Romeo that he (Romeo) made up the evidence given in court on Tuesday when he pinpointed Donald as the one who held taxi driver Ramesh Seelo-chan at gunpoint in the Tabaquite forest, moments before a gunshot rang out.

Koylass put it to Romeo that, “You are making up this story to take yourself out of trouble.” But Romeo denied the accusation. Again Koylass challenged him: “This is a make-up assisted by your brother Marlon. This whole make-up came about after your mother was bawling down the place when she found out about Wolfman’s death.” And again Romeo’s reply was: “No sir.” Romeo also denied Koylass’ suggestion that while sitting in Seelochan’s vehicle on the day the taxi driver was murdered, he (Romeo) angled his body so that persons in oncoming vehicles could not see his face.

Koylass also suggested the incident did not occur as Romeo said, since he and the accused had broken off their friendship some four months before. Romeo answered, “In that position I don’t think anyone would want to have a friend like that.” Donald, 25, is on trial before Justice Herbert Volney at San Fernando First Criminal Court for the shooting murder of Seelochan, also known as “Wolfman,” on a date unknown, between August 7 and 12, 2002. The case continues today.