Woman testified she saw man run past her home

The trial of Matthew Mortimer Phillips began in the High Court on Wednesday before a nine-member jury.

Phillips, of Lennox Avenue, Goodland, Black Rock, St Michael is accused of robbing Romel Nanton of a gold ring, a chain and pendant worth $15 000 on October 18, 2019

He is further accused of using a firearm on the same day without having the valid licence to do so.

Fourteen witnesses are down to give evidence in the matter on behalf of the prosecution which is represented by Senior State Counsel Neville Watson.

Phillips is representing himself.

This afternoon a female witness was called to give evidence. Questioned by the prosecutor, she told the No. 3 Supreme Court presided over by Justice Carlisle Greaves that she was at home around 1:10 p.m. that day in her kitchen speaking on the phone with her grandmother when she observed Phillips, who she knew prior to that day, pass by.

“I can’t recall if he was wearing three-quarter jeans or long jeans. It was afternoon and the place was well lit. There was no obstruction. When he was walking past he didn’t have anything on his face. He made the left turn onto Condemned Gully,” the woman testified.

“Two spin rounds in the kitchen later . . . five to ten minutes not longer than that, I saw someone with the same clothes running past going in the opposite direction this time . . . wearing a scarf covering under the eyes . . . so only the eyes were out,” she further said in her evidence. She said the individual was wearing the exact same clothes, with the only difference being the scarf.

According to the witness said she later walked around the corner to check on her local shopkeeper to see if something had happened. She said she saw “a gentleman” who she knew by the alias “Schillaci”. He was sitting on the ground at the front of the shop and she asked him  if he was okay.

“He just say he had been shot.”

The witness said they discussed what the assailant was wearing and the description fit what she had seen Phillips, who went by the alias “Muttley”, wearing “a couple minutes before”.

The trial continues on Thursday.