It wasn’t me, claims robbery accused

Kedar Ondre Holloway maintains he is innocent of the charge of robbing the SurePay outlet at Carlton A1 Supermarket, Black Rock in December 2013.

“I am not the man that claims were made about stating that he robbed SurePay at Black Rock. I did not enter the SurePay with a gun, helmet nor mask. I did not enter SurePay period! I had no reason to be there,” Holloway said.

The Block 2D Sunnyside Court, Deacon’s Farm, St Michael resident is on trial before a nine-member jury charged with robbing Stacia Williams of $816.72 belonging to Massy Technologies on December 13, 2013.

Moments after the Crown closed its case today Holloway opted to give evidence in his defence under oath, opening himself to cross examination by Senior Crown Counsel Olivia Davis.

He stated that he was ill-treated when police “picked” him up on January 28 the following year and transported him to the Black Rock Police Station.

“I was not asked a question about a crime but stripped naked, handcuffed with newspaper around my hands behind my back.

“I sincerely say to you the court and the jury I was wrapped in heavy duty plastic wrap, from my foot . . . to my neck …. was kicked in my ribs and bags, plastic bags placed over my head – not one, not two, but three. Three plastic bags with some substance spray in it. I can’t tell you if it was Baygon but it has a scent like that so I assumed it was Baygon.

“Repeatedly beaten. Beaten over and over, for what reason but to say yes to a crime that I did not commit. I signed statements that I did not even give,” he claimed.

He claimed that the written and oral statements in evidence were signed under duress.

“I would not dispute that fact with you the jury . . . I signed these statements, but they were not statements given by me. I signed these statements because I felt I had no other choice, being repeatedly beaten, under duress, feeling like I guan dead. As police say ‘you must piss and s**t before you dead’, I didn’t s**t but I piss.

“I did not do this crime. There is nothing more that I can say other than the fact that I was beaten to sign those statements,” he added.

Under cross examination by the prosecutor, the accused denied giving the statements voluntarily.

“If I didn’t sign the statements I would have repeatedly get beaten. I couldn’t withstand any more licks.

“The time for licks was dun. It was too hot. The only statement that I made was that I didn’t do this crime. Anything else is a story,” he added.

The case will continue before Justice Randall Worrell tomorrow when Holloway will address the jury.