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THE defence statement of one of the men accused of killing six-year-old Sean Luke in 2006 has been read out in court.
Akeel Mitchell’s re-amended defence statement was read to him at Wednesday’s sitting by Justice Lisa Ramsumair-Hinds, who also confirmed with him that the contents accurately stated his position and his defence.
Mitchell, 28, and Richard Chatoo, 30, are before Ramsumair-Hinds at a judge-only trial. When they were arraigned in February, both men pleaded not guilty.
It is alleged that on a date unknown, between March 25 and 29, 2006, in Couva, the two murdered Sean Luke.
They are both remanded at the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca and attend court from the prison’s virtual court facility, since court and prison rules prohibit prisoners from attending court as a covid19 precaution.
The reading-out of the defence statement was in keeping with rule 14(1) of the criminal procedure rules which govern the conduct of criminal trials.
Mitchell, one of his attorneys, and a registrar of the High Court signed his defence statement. Dated March 10, and filed on March 16, it replaced two previously filed by his attorneys.
Chatoo’s has not yet been read to him.
When Mitchell's statement had been read out, and after technology-related issues were sorted out, Chatoo’s defence continued its challenge of the evidence, recalling Cpl Nigel Stephens, the police audiovisual technician who recorded an interview with Chatoo, then a pre-teen, by the police.
His evidence and that of retired Insp Azam Hamid were taken from the San Fernando High Court, where the judge, prosecutors and at least one of Chatoo’s attorneys were present for the sitting.
The matter continues on Friday, when two more retired police witnesses are expected to testify. The challenge, called a voir dire, is expected to end on Monday, and attorneys have been asked to file their submissions by April 1.
The judge is expected to rule on both Mitchell’s and Chatoo’s challenges after the Easter court break, after which the main trial is expected to begin.
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