Another accused in the murder trial of Vindra Naipaul-Coolman has denied any culpability in the businesswoman’s kidnapping as his statement to police was read out to the jury yesterday.
The statement of Antonio Charles, dated May 12, 2007, was admitted into evidence by Supt Cecil Harry.
The legal team
The defence team includes Ulric Skerritt, Joseph Pantor, Selwyn Mohammed, Lennox Sankersingh, Ian Brooks, Wayne Sturge, Mario Merritt, Richard Valere, Kwesi Bekoe, Colin Selvon, Vince Charles, Christian Chandler, Delicia Helwig and Alexia Romero.
The prosecution team includes, Gilbert Peterson and Israel Khan who are bing assitsed by senior State prosecutors Joy Balkaran and Kelly Thompson.
The accused
The 12 men before the jury and Justice Malcolm Holdip are: Allan “Scanny” Martin, twin brothers Shervon and Devon Peters and their older brother Anthony Dwayne Gloster, siblings Keida and Jamille Garcia, brothers Marlon and Earl Trimmingham, Ronald Armstrong, Antonio Charles, Joel Fraser and Lyndon James. A 13th man, Raphael Williams, was charged with the crime but died in prison in 2011 of complications from sickle-cell anaemia.
In it Charles said he knew most of his co-accused but he was not involved in Naipaul-Coolman’s kidnapping. Harry testified that during an interview with Charles the accused was questioned about Naipaul-Coolman’s kidnapping and not her murder.
In the statement, Charles said he frequented a house, called the Black Album, at La Puerta, Diego Martin, where Naipaul-Coolman was allegedly killed. He said it was located five to six houses from his.
Asked about his involvement in the kidnapping, Charles said in the statement that he never saw Naipaul-Coolman in the house.
He also denied helping eight of his 11 co-accused carry Naipaul-Coolman’s body out of the house on December 28, 2006 or counting $100 and $20 notes outside the Black Album.
He also denied he carried water to soften dirt in order that one of his co-accused could dig a hole to bury Naipaul-Coolman.
In the statement, Charles admitted he was charged along with Keida Garcia, one of his co-accused, with possession of a gun which the State is alleging is linked to the businesswoman’s kidnapping.
The trial continues today when Charles’ attorney Mario Merritt would continue his cross-examination of Harry.
Naipaul-Coolman, 52, was kidnapped from her home at Radix Road, Lange Park, Chaguanas, on December 19, 2007.
Her family paid a $122,000 ransom but she was not released and her body has never been found.