Man sentenced to death for 2011 murder

The death sentence was on Friday read out to a Tunapuna man for a 2011 killing.

Trinity Lewis, also known as "Prack," was sentenced to hang by Justice Kathy Ann Waterman-Latchoo after she found him guilty of murdering Mark Anthony Songui on December 1, 2011, at Upper First Trace, Maingot Road, Tunapuna.

Lewis was before the court in a judge-only trial.

Songui was shot five times, according to the evidence led by prosecutors Indira Chinebas and Makira Mendes.

Songui, 25, and three others were sitting on a culvert when Lewis came up to them, pulled out a gun and fired five shots at Songui.

A resident testified to hearing the shots and seeing Lewis running in front of her home with the gun.

Songui's brother and two other witnesses gave "eye-see" statements to the police of what they saw but were deemed hostile at the trial. The dead man's brother said he no longer wanted anything to do with the case.

In assessing their evidence, Waterman-Latchoo held that their statements to the police were consistent with the evidence of the neighbor who heard the shots.

Having also found the neighbour's evidence to be credible and reliable, the judge examined the statements of the three for consistency, and found they were consistent with the account given by the neighbour.

Although he did not testify, Lewis's defence was that he was not there at the time of the killing and the witnesses were mistaken. However, the judge did not believe this and found that the prosecution witnesses were trustworthy and reliable.

Lewis was represented by attorneys Orin Kerr and Miguel Rawlins.