Tucville murder trial begins... Live rounds, spent shells retrieved from shooting scene

Tucville murder trial begins… Live rounds, spent shells retrieved from shooting scene

Feb 01, 2018 News

-Detective recalls

MURDER ACCUSED: Nabadingi Gobin called ‘Dangles’

Two live rounds and a spent shell were retrieved from a shooting scene at Turning Point, Tucville, Georgetown, where Mocha, East Bank Demerara resident Ryan Clementson was reportedly shot on July 14, 2015.
Clementson succumbed to his injuries more than a week later at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Police Corporal Detective Carlton Rockcliffe recalled recovering these items from the shooting scene, when he was called to testify as the trial of Nabadingi Gobin called ‘Dangles’ and Edward Skeete called ‘Pretty Boy’ commenced yesterday before Justice Navindra Singh.
Gobin and Skeete are jointly charged for the murder of Clementson. They have pleaded not guilty to the allegation. Representing Skeete is Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes, while Attorneys-at-Law Mark Waldron and Keoma Griffith have been retained by Gobin.
State Counsel Tiffin Lyken, Narissa Leander and Abigail Gibbs are representing the prosecution.
In presenting the case for the State, Lyken disclosed that a total of 12 witnesses will testify. She told the court that on July 14, 2015, Clementson was at a shop in Tucville, Georgetown when he was shot. The prosecutor said that the man succumbed to his injuries 10 days later at the public medical institution. Lyken said that based on investigations, Skeete and Gobin were arrested and charged for murder.
Corporal Rockcliffe, who is presently stationed at La Grange Police Station and attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), told the court that during the month of July 2015, he performed duties as a crime scene examiner at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown. He said that back then he held the rank of Constable.
According to the police witness, on July 14, 2015, he was performing duties at Crime Scene Laboratory, CID Headquarters, when ranks from the East La Penitence Police Station requested a crime scene examiner. As a result, the detective recalled that he equipped himself with a crime scene kit and went to Tucville, Georgetown (near to Turning Point, a business establishment) where he met Constable Colwyn Major who told him something.
Corporal Rockcliffe said that he arrived at the location at about 22:30hrs.
Based on what Constable Major told him, Corporal Rockcliffe said that he began examining the scene.

MURDER ACCUSED: Edward Skeete called ‘Pretty Boy’

The witness recounted that he found a spent shell and two live rounds on the western side of the road near to a bridge.
He told the court that he placed the items in a self-sealing evidence property bag on which he placed his initials and other markings. He disclosed that he also filled out an analyst form and handed over the evidence bag with its contents to Sergeant Eon Jackson on July 22, 2015. According to the police witness, on February 14, 2016, he tendered the self-sealing evidence bag with its contents at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
During cross examination by Gobin’s attorney, the detective insisted that the items recovered from the crime scene were stored safely, although he did not cause them to be tested for fingerprints. When quizzed as to what he saw Constable Major doing when he arrived at the scene, Corporal Rockcliffe said that his colleague was standing. He added that he did not observe Constable Major rendering assistance to anyone or placing anyone into a vehicle.