Frankie Joseph, a man who used a cutlass to chop another in his leg, resulting in the victim bleeding to death, has been found guilty of murder.
A 12-member jury returned the unanimous verdict at the High Court Criminal Assizes No 2, on November 15, following a trial that started October 31.
Joseph, a 42-year-old mason of Long Piece, North Union at the time of the incident, was charged with the murder of Henry ‘Busta’ Parsons, who was an employee of Diamond Woods, and a resident of North Union.
Upon conviction, Justice Angelica Teelucksingh adjourned the matter to December 20 for a status hearing, to determine whether a Social Inquiry Report ordered by the Court is ready, in preparation for sentencing.
In essence, the case presented by the Crown was that on the night of February 21, 2020 there was a karaoke function held at the ‘Kiss me neck’ bar at Long Piece, North Union.
Several persons were in attendance, including Parsons.
Joseph came later with a cutlass in his hand. Someone asked him where he was going with the cutlass, and he said it was his weapon. Another person offered to hold the cutlass for him to which Joseph replied, “ah have to kill somebody tonight, and if is a man, ah go tell the Magistrate he try to bull me”. He then went to the bar area where Parsons was and Parsons told him to put the cutlass properly because he might cut someone.
Joseph became annoyed and began to curse. He later left the shop, following which Parsons went outside and spoke to him again.
Joseph responded by pushing Parsons. Parsons left, returned with a hammer and told Joseph he did not want to do him anything. Parsons began pounding the hammer on a wall, then left.
Parsons later proceeded to speak to someone and while he had his back turned to Joseph, Joseph approached and chopped him with the cutlass on his right leg, penetrating his bone and muscles.
After Joseph chopped Parsons, he left the scene but returned minutes later and again approached the victim, who was lying on the ground bleeding out, and struck him several times with the cutlass.
Joseph is reported to have said, “You stinking mudder (expletive), you ain’t dead yet, I come back for you”.
The Crown called 16 witnesses, seven of them gave their evidence in Court while nine had their evidence ready for the Jury.
In his defense to the Court, Joseph said Parsons had rushed him with the hammer, and he defended himself by chopping him with the cutlass.
Attorneys Jomo Thomas and Shirlan Barnwell represented Joseph while the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions led the case for the Crown.
Source :The Vincentian