CG diver: Search failed to find head in creek

AFTER an almost three-hour long search of waters off the coast of Mosquito Creek in southwestern Trinidad, coast guard divers did not find the head of businessman Dr Eddie Koury.

Lt Lorenzo Charriandy, one of two divers with the Coast Guard who assisted the police in searching for Koury’s head, testified yesterday that after searching for about three hours, “the head was not found.”

Charriandy also assisted police in searching for a cutlass and a piece of cloth in the Caroni River close to the silver bridge. Neither item was found either.

The search of the river took between 30-40 minutes. Both searches took place on September 26, 2005.

It is alleged that Shawn James, one of the men on trial for Koury’s murder, took police to the creek where he claimed – in an alleged statement – he dumped the businessman’s head after he cut it off and also to a remote area in Tabaquite where he dumped the body.

Also testifying was retired Insp Terrence Williams who was one of the officers present during the coast guard searches.

That day he also went to Bolivar Trace, Palmiste, Tabaquite, where James and now retired senior supt Johnnie Abraham were speaking and he said he overheard James say: “Is here I drag the man,” and pointed to a track.

Expected to testify today at the trial in the Port of Spain High Court are Koury’s brother, Curtis, his former accounts officer Summer Pablo and police officer Victor Lewis.

In testimony on Monday, PC Gary Jones, who was also James’ employer at MM Electrical in Mausica, and who witnessed the confession statement allegedly given by James to police on September 26, 2005, and during an interview the day before, insisted police did not coerce him to sign the confession with promises that if he helped them he would not be charged.

James had asked for Jones to be present as his witness during the interview and the taking of the statement.

Also present were James’ mother Gwendolyn Ottley, Justice of the Peace Asquith Clarke and now-retired senior supt Johnnie Abraham.

On Monday, Jones said his purpose at the Malabar Police Station was to ensure James was treated fairly. He also said he did not think his being present both times, as James’ representative, was a conflict of interest because he was also a police officer.

He said he was there as an officer and a friend.

In response to questions by James’ attorney Daniel Khan, Jones said he did not fail in his duty.

He denied assertions that James was told he would not be charged if he co-operated or that he’d be used as a witness for the prosecution. Jones also denied that James was told that he and his family would be placed in a safe house in St Vincent under the witness protection programme and that his identity would be changed.

He also denied that Abraham threatened to charge James with mutilation of Koury’s body as the cause of his death was unknown but it was allegedly determined that he was dead before his head was cut off.

The assertions form part of James’ defence and, according to him, both Jones and the JP fell asleep during the almost ten-hour long interview. Jones denied that.

He also denied “selling” James’ mother out to police after she came to his home to collect her son’s salary on September 19, 2005.

Ottley had been arrested by police during a roadblock. Jones said he had nothing to do with her arrest, nor did he tip off the police and only found out she was arrested sometime after.

Also completing his evidence was PC Sheldon Petersen who went to St Vincent with Cpl Wendell Lucas to arrest James on September 24, 2005.

Peterson also took James’ fingerprints at the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court on November 7, 2005. He admitted it was not the usual practice for an accused person’s fingerprints to be taken after they were charged with an offence, but said he did not know if James’ prints had been taken before.

He said he was instructed to go to the court to take James’ prints by Sgt Jude Worrell and asked no questions.

The fingerprint submission form with James’ prints was tendered into evidence.

Koury, the managing director of ISKO Enterprises Ltd, an import and distribution company based at the Macoya Industrial Estate, was abducted from his office on September 21, 2005.

On trial before Justice Malcolm Holdip are James, Caleb Donaldson, Jerome Murray, Moore and Robert Franklyn.