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Accused was seen stooping at window after threatening wife’s life – Witness tells court
Miguel Barker, who is on trial before Justice Navindra Singh for allegedly killing his wife, Donessa Barker, was seen stooping at a window of the woman’s
MURDERED: Donessa Barker
home, before her face was later seen covered in blood, on the fateful night of April 30, 2015. Days before he had threatened to kill her.
This is according to the dead woman’s friend, Shaniza Clarke, who testified via Skype from Suriname when the trial continued before a mixed 12-member jury at the High Court in Georgetown.
On the other hand, Miguel Barker, who is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay in association with Shenise Dowding, has denied the indictment which alleged that on Thursday, April 30, 2015, he murdered his wife.
State Counsel Tiffini Lyken, Abigail Gibbs and Narissa Leander are representing the prosecution.
Clarke told the court that she, Donessa and Miguel Barker lived together in a two-storey house at Lot 21 Inner Bagotville, West Bank Demerara.
According to Clarke, on the day in question at around 15:30hrs, she was awakened by her step sister Jovanna Frank.
She told the court that she woke up Donessa Barker who came over to her bedroom. The witness recounted that some time after she received a cell phone call and went to accompany her step sister and Barker on the front verandah.
She said that Donessa Barker had inquired from her step sister about what type of music she had in her phone.
Clarke recounted that Barker told Frank that she was going to uplift her phone from her bedroom. She added, “Vanessa left the landing (verandah) and walked towards her room. All I hear is Oh God! Shaniza come now.”
Clarke recalled that she armed herself with a cutlass she retrieved from under her bedroom and walked towards Donessa Barker’s bedroom. According to the witness, she saw Miguel Barker stooping at the window in Donessa Barker’s room. She said that the murder accused turned around and looked at her, before she saw Donessa Barker standing in her bedroom door with blood pouring down her face.
“He (Miguel) was wearing a white jersey with a black security pants. I see she (Donessa) panting for breath. I see blood shooting out from her neck and her hands. I shake she and tell she stay with me, I going and get help.”
The woman stated that she sought help from a young man and neighbours before police arrived at the scene.
She told the court that she could not say how Donessa Barker was transported to the hospital.
Clarke recounted that on April 29, 2015, she and Donessa Barker had heard footsteps coming from the bushes after returning home from attending a wake, at around 23:00hrs. She added that the electricity in her home went out, causing her to peep through a hole in the wall from where she saw that lights were on in her neighbour’s home. She said that when she looked out the window she saw Miguel Barker, standing about 10 feet from her home, smoking a cigarette.
“Then I called out for help. Me and Donessa Barker come out with two sheets.” She said that the murder accused, who had a knife in his hand, told them that all men deserve a fair chance. She recalled telling persons to take Miguel Barker to the (police) station, but he eventually dropped the knife and began walking. The witness said that she picked up the knife.
After hearing something moving in the bushes the following morning, Clarke said that she and Donessa Barker went to La Grange Police Station where they made a report about the incident that had occurred the previous day with Miguel Barker.
She said that she also handed over to police the knife that the man had dropped.
Clarke told the court that Donessa Barker and her husband were always in the habit of “cussing” and hitting each other.
She said that on April 28, 2015, she overheard the man threatening his wife that he would kill her.
During cross examination by Defence Counsel McKay, Clarke disclosed that her ex-fiancé Quincy McPherson, also lived with them. She said that Donessa Barker had a daughter who lived at Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara. McKay then suggested to the witness that she was not being truthful to the court, but the witness maintained that she was telling the truth. She stressed, “No, it’s not a lie. It is the truth.”
The trial continues.
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