Court hears of WhatsApp messages containing references to deceased

During his inspection of a cell phone submitted as belonging to Shakira Blackman, a digital forensic examiner found several WhatsApp messages referencing the deceased, Shanice Miller.

Blackman, of Park Road, Bush Hall, St Michael, is charged with murdering Miller on November 28, 2021.

Acting Sergeant Kemar Burke, of The Barbados Police Service’s Digital Evidence and Cyber Crime Unit, took the witness stand in the No. 4 Supreme Court on Monday. He testified about information retrieved from a Samsung Galaxy S9, which he received on December 3, 2021, from the lead investigator. He was instructed to report any references to Miller, particularly messages around November 27, 2021.

Asked by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale, who is prosecuting the matter with State Counsel Maya Kellman, whether the phone belonged to Blackman, Burke said the investigator told him it did.

When further questioned by the prosecutor, the witness admitted that he did not know for sure whether the phone belonged to the accused, and was acting on what the lead investigator had told him.

Referring to his 23-page report, the officer highlighted conversations with five contacts on the messenger app, which occurred between November 26 and 27, 2021.

He told the court that between 7:19 a.m. and 7:21 a.m. on November 27, a message sent to a contact named Kira stated, “Smh somebody gine harm sge bad. She will lose her life ya. idk why she don’t stop dat but I want nuff complains. When I do what I want do I gine just get remand time.”

Burke added that a message, sent to a contact saved as Bush, at 7:23 a.m. that day read: “I want nuff complain so when I kill her I only do the remand time.”

During cross-examination by King’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim, who is representing the accused along with attorney Martie Garnes, Burke said conversations were still happening on the device at 9:39 p.m. on November 27.

“If I say to you that this phone could not have been in her custody at that time, what would you say?” Pilgrim queried.

“It is a possibility, but at the same time, once a device is connected to a network, it will receive calls and messages,” the lawman responded.

“Can it send messages?” the senior counsel pressed.

“Not unless someone uses it,” Burke responded.

The officer had earlier stated that he did not know who had the phone prior to the lead investigator giving it to him.

He also said he was unaware whether any of his findings had been presented to the accused or whether any of the persons involved in the chats had been interviewed.

The trial continues on Tuesday.