‘I was involved in murder, kidnapping’

BRENT DANGLADE is one of the prosecution’s two main witnesses against Jamaat al Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr on a charge of conspiracy to murder. But under cross-examination yesterday, Danglade stopped short of admitting he was a criminal although he confessed to being involved in murder, kidnapping, drug dealing, and robbery. Since his last appearance in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court in October 2003 during the preliminary inquiry, Danglade, alias “Small Brent,” has put on weight and looked more relaxed as he came into the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court to give evidence against his former leader.

There was no room when Justice Mark Mohammed took his position. Everyone was awaiting the arrival of one of the State’s star witnesses. Danglade, who is awaiting trial for murder and kidnapping, did not come through the prisoners’ entrance, but through the public entrance. Although he was a member of the Jamaat al Muslimeen between 2001 and 2003, Danglade took the oath on the bible and told the court that he was a Catholic. He renounced the Muslim faith and although he was not baptised again, he said he was a practising Catholic. He told the jury and alternates that on June 4, 2003, he was at St Ann’s with his friend Brent Miller.

He said Miller received a call and thereafter they went in separate cars to Citrine Drive, Diamond Vale, Diego Martin to the home of Buffy, whom he knew as Mustapha Mohammed. At Diego Martin, Danglade said he was in a room with Bakr, Buffy, and Miller. He said the accused told them that Salim Rasheed and Zaki Aubaidah were giving trouble, that they were dealing in drugs. Danglade said the Imam wanted both men dead, that he was going to find out where they were sleeping that night. The witness said Bakr told Buffy to make sure “not to stick like the last time.” Sometime later, the Imam left the house.

Under cross-examination by lead defence attorney Pamela Elder SC, Danglade, 27, revealed that he started his life of crime at age 15. He has already spent three years in jail for robbery — a robbery which he said he carried out on drug men. He said he is awaiting trial along with Sheldon “Skelly” Lovell and Sean “Gumbo” Vincent for the kidnap and murder of Curepe businessman Dennis Persad Jordan. He confessed to being involved in another kidnapping where a ransom of $200,000 was paid. He received $20,000. There was the kidnapping of a Chinese man from Santa Cruz where the ransom demanded was $2 million.

Danglade said it was the Jamaat members who kidnapped the man but came to others for advice. He said that after holding the man for a week, Miller decided to release the victim after the family failed to pay the ransom. The witness spoke of another kidnapping with the ransom being $300,000, and a fourth for $2 million. He also revealed that an Englishman was robbed of 7,000 pounds sterling when he came to buy drugs. “It was not a kidnapping,” Danglade told the court.

Under further cross-examination, Danglade said he was involved in the murder of a man at Bournes Road, St James, although he never killed anybody. During yesterday’s hearing, Elder had to refer to the deposition taken at the preliminary inquiry at the Magistrates’ Court to point out the inconsistencies in the evidence of the witness. When hearing ended at 3.30 pm, Danglade was still being cross-examined. He will be further cross-examined when hearing resumes this morning. Danglade is the fourth witness for the prosecution.