BEACHY STOUT MURDER TRIAL
Defence takes cop to task over filing of second statement
Published:Tuesday | December 12, 2023 | 12:12 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
Courtney Rowe, one of four attorneys representing murder accused Everton ‘Beachy Stout’ McDonald, on Monday drilled a police constable, who later admitted to writing a second statement three years after his initial evidence and after the trial had started.
The sixth and seventh witnesses, both police officers, were called to the stand on Monday in the Home Circuit Court at the resumption of the trial.
Rowe, during cross-examination of the sixth witness, a detective constable, took him to task and said his doing of the second statement after his superior instructed him to do so seemed like a case was being “cooked up”.
The policeman earlier detailed to the court how he executed a search warrant at a house where Denvalyn ‘Bubbla’ Minott was held on August 3, 2020.
Minott, who is currently serving 19 years in prison for his role in the murder McDonald’s wife, Tonia, is a prosecution witness.
QUIZZED BY PROSECUTION
The detective constable was at first quizzed during his evidence-in-chief by the prosecution.
A Samsung Galaxy mobile phone, a receipt, and a pair of shoes were the items under the spotlight.
The policeman told the court that the items were taken from the house as part of the investigation.
Rowe, however, asked why no mention was made of Minott’s cell phone in the first statement on September 16, 2020.
The cell phone surfaced in the second statement, done on September 21, 2023, after the trial began.
“I left off the model number for the mobile device,” the policeman said, explaining the need for the second statement.
Rowe took the policeman through riveting questioning, which, at times, appeared to confuse the witness, who asked repeatedly for the attorney to clarify or restate the question.
“As a matter of fact, it was after Mr [superior] instructed you to put in the model number in a statement that you wrote your second statement, is that correct?” Rowe asked.
The policeman responded in the affirmative.
Rowe asked the witness if the incident (execution of warrant) which occurred on August 3, 2020 would have been fresher in his mind when he gave the statement on September 16, 2020 as opposed to three years later.
The police constable said no, and added that he relied on notes had made.
Earlier in the trial, Minott said he used a cell phone to secretly record McDonald, who offered him $3 million to kill his second wife, Tonia.
McDonald is charged in the matter alongside Oscar Barnes.
The trial continues on Tuesday.