Murder accused Hakeem Roberto Stuart was never formally identified as the person who shot and killed Damian Trotman in Sheraton Mall two years ago.
That was the admission of lead investigator Inspector Dwayne Cumberbatch when Stuart’s murder trial continued on Monday in the No. 3 Supreme Court.
Stuart, 24, of Shelbourne Gap, St Lawrence, Christ Church, is accused of murdering Trotman on March 21, 2019.
Under cross-examination from Stuart’s attorney-at-law, King’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim, Cumberbatch said no one who was at the popular Christ Church mall when the incident occurred had pinpointed the accused as the shooter.
“Was there any witness saying they saw the accused and identified him as the perpetrator?” Pilgrim asked.
“No, Sir,” was Cumberbatch’s response.
“That means there was no identification parade done in this case?” Pilgrim further queried.
“No, Sir,” Cumberbatch again responded.
The senior lawman also testified that when Stuart was arrested after the shooting took place, his hands were swabbed as part of the procedure to test for gunshot residue (GSR).
However, Cumberbatch said he never got the results of that test because the lab had closed “for a period”.
“….When I first encountered the accused, the swabbing was only done as procedure,” Cumberbatch said while pointing out that when Stuart was held he “was wet like he just had a bath”.
“I had a conversation with Constable Brathwaite about the swabbing and he did not get back any results on the GSR because the lab was closed for a period. I’m not sure for how long.”
Cumberbatch said although the results of the test were never known, he fully expected them to reveal that there was GSR present on Stuart’s hands.
“I was doing it with the expectation that there would be GSR,” he told the court.
Under further questioning from Pilgrim, Cumberbatch said he was unaware of any doctor visiting Stuart while he was in police custody. He also maintained that he was not aware of Stuart being beaten by lawmen while in custody.
Also taking the witness stand was Sergeant Kevin Chesney-Bynoe who assisted with the investigation.
The officer, who is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department, said Stuart gave police certain information pertaining to his whereabouts on the day Trotman was killed.
Chesney-Bynoe said that based on the information, the accused took police officers to several locations he said he had visited that day.
Those included Smith’s Corner, Sergeant’s Village; Briar Hall, Graeme Hall Park, Kendal Hill and Hastings, all in Christ Church.
The police officer said Stuart was not forced to point out the locations and did so of his own free will.
Director of Public Prosecutions Donna Babb-Agard and State Counsel Romario Straker are appearing on behalf of the State.
The matter is set to continue on Wednesday.
