Latest update December 4th, 2024 2:40 AM
Accused in schoolboy killing freed; State appeals
Anfernee Bowman
Justice Diana Insanally yesterday upheld a no-case submission, in the trial of 19-year-old murder accused, Samuel Cornelius.
Cornelius was indicted for the murder of 17-year-old schoolboy, Anfernee Bowman. The incident occurred in the vicinity of Aubrey Barker Road on February 27, 2012.
Police investigators said that an ice pick was recovered a short distance away from the crime scene where the then 17-year-old Cornelius and his classmate (Bowman) had engaged in a vicious fight following lessons at a nearby location.
Eyewitnesses detailed the fight between the two boys. The altercation reportedly ended with Bowman lying in the sand, his school shirt soaked in blood and Cornelius fleeing the scene.
Bowman was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead.
Cornelius was on trial at the Supreme Court before Justice Insanally and a mixed 12-member jury.
Yesterday, the Judge ruled in favour of the no-case submission which was presented by Defence Attorney, Mark Waldron.
According to Waldron, the prosecution failed in their evidence to prove that the accused had intended to kill the victim or cause him grievous bodily harm, which are main elements for an indictment of murder.
In addition, the lawyer noted that the prosecution failed to prove that the accused had not acted in self-defence.
However, given the ruling, an appeal was filed by State Prosecutor, Natasha Backer. Consequently, Cornelius was released on $300,000 bail.
During the trial, the defence called several witnesses to the stand, some of whom were relatives of the deceased. Trevor Bowman, Gary Bowman and Prudence Bowman testified to identifying the body of the murdered teenager.
Samuel Cornelius
Last Wednesday, Police Witness Detective Constable, Deon Prince told the court that the weapon which was allegedly used in the stabbing of the schoolboy, was recovered a short distance away from the crime scene.
Police Forensic Analyst Steven Greaves subsequently told the court that the weapon had tested positive for samples of blood.
Thereafter, Detective Lillian Scotland testified that the weapon was tested for blood but not fingerprints. She gave no explanation for this.
Scotland said that Cornelius was arrested after he came to the station in the company of his lawyer, “because I went to the home of the accused that I see sitting in the docks today, but he was not there,” she explained.
She detailed to the court that Cornelius had left the city for Linden after learning of his colleague’s demise. The officer read the caution statement, which she procured from the accused aloud.
“Anfernee and I were in a confrontation over a female. Anfernee pushed me and I resisted, but he pulled out an ice pick. I was frustrated and in shock. I went to my brother in Linden. I did not tell him what happened. I tried my best to sleep that night. The next day after seeing the newspapers my brother called me and inquired about the incident. I told him. He said that I needed to turn myself in,” Scotland read.
However under examination by the defence, Scotland told the court that a medical report was never issued on behalf of the accused, although he was examined by a doctor for injuries, he sustained.
The detective also revealed that she never questioned vendors and other residents, who might have been witnesses of the crime during her investigation.
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