Doctor tells of complainant’s injuries

An assessment of St Michael resident Omar Layne at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) department on January 16, 2010 found swelling, a puncture wound to his head, a laceration and an abrasion to his face as well as two fractures to the jaw.

That was the evidence given today by Dr Joanne Bradford-King, head of the A&E department at the QEH, as the trial of Kadeem Zaviad Atkins, of Block 5D, Deacons Farm, St Michael continued in the No. 5 Supreme Court.

Atkins is charged with causing serious bodily harm to Layne with intent and assaulting him occasioning him actual bodily harm on January 15, 2010.

Dr Bradford-King was reading from the notes of Dr Ayesha Gittens who was the physician who treated Layne about 12:15 a.m. on January 16, nine years ago.

According to her notes Layne arrived the night before and informed her that he was beaten about the head and face and kicked about the body but was unable to recall the actual attack. A friend who was also with him informed her that Layne was attacked but was not responding well.  He was then examined while sitting in a bed and found to be alert.

That examination, Dr Bradford-King said, referring to the notes, found among other things, a five by five puncture wound to the right side of his head which was not bleeding and a mild swelling; a laceration associated with the left lower premolar and an abrasion to his left eye. There was no bleeding within his brain. He had a fracture to his frontal bone and two fractures to the lower jaw – one to the left and the other to the right.

“He was treated . . . referred to general surgery . . . [and] the surgical team for further management. Following their consultation he was admitted to Ward A1  . . . and discharged on January 19, 2010 at 5 p.m.” the doctor said.

Through questioning by Crown Counsel Neville Watson, who is prosecuting the case along with Senior Crown Counsel Krystal Delaney, the A&E head explained that the degree of force used on Layne was “moderate to severe” and was consistent with the information given when he was assessed.

Under cross-examination by defence attorney Arthur Holder the doctor said that the notes did not specify who accompanied Layne to the hospital neither did it say whether it was the patient who gave all the information on what had occurred to Dr Gittens. She said there was also no indication of “loss of consciousness”.

The Crown closed its case with the doctor’s evidence and Holder put forward his defence with Atkins giving an unsworn statement.

The 27-year-old accused said: “The statement I gave to the police was the whole truth . . .”

Holder then called his lone witness Jason Worrell to give evidence.

Worrell told the nine-member jury that he was at the Lower Green van stand with Atkins and some “other fellas” waiting on a bus to head home when Omar passed and “brushed” Kadeem and say ‘there got bare p******** bout hey’.

Worrell, who disclosed that he was a schoolmate of the accused, explained that Atkins asked Layne why he was getting on in that manner and “he chuck Kadeem and a fight began. A solider came and hold Kadeem”.

“The fight lasted about 15 minutes,” the witness told the court under cross-examination by Watson, adding, “After Omar chuck him, he [Atkins] cuff he [Omar] in the face and afterwards Kadeem handle himself . . . it was a big commotion that stop traffic,” Worrell said even as he admitted that he did not “part” the fight.

He explained however that he went to the police station when Atkins was arrested but never went on the inside and it was the first time that he had ever given a statement on what had transpired.

Holder then asked him whether the police had ever called him to give evidence or a statement on the incident and he said no.

Watson and Holder will deliver their closing arguments before Madam Justice Pamela Beckles tomorrow.