The aggravated burglary trial of Corey Omar McDonald Noel continued in the No. 5 Supreme Court today.
Eight witnesses have given evidence in the case in which Noel is accused of entering the home of Virginia Challenor in St George as a trespasser and stealing $157 in cash, a pair of earrings worth $100, a chain worth $150, a pendant worth $500, two rings worth $10,150 belonging to her as well as two shotguns worth $12,000 and one hundred rounds of ammunition belonging to George Challenor on December 8, 2011.
It is also alleged that he was armed with a sword when he committed the crime.
Noel has pleaded not guilty to the single charge.
Today before a nine-member jury, presided over by Madam Justice Jacqueline Cornelius, lead investigator Sergeant Augustin Jacob gave evidence in the case.
The sergeant said he questioned the accused who was 29 years old at the time and had no fixed place of abode in the presence of another police officer and both of them were in civilian clothes.
He informed Noel at the time that he was investigating a report made on December 8 by Virginia Chanellor that two men had burglarized her home of jewellery, money, two shotguns and ammunition and it was believed that he was one of the men.
He then read the accused his rights including that of being entitled to have an attorney of his choice present.
However, the accused allegedly replied: “I come to tell the truth, I do not want a lawyer right now”.
It was at that time that the sergeant made a request to read the rest of the orals made from his notes, as he could not remember all the details from memory.
“I object to him reading . . . because I never made them,” Noel who is self-represented stated.
However, Justice Cornelius allowed the oral statements on the grounds that it was for the jury to decide whether they were true or not.
A few moments later under questioning from Senior Crown Counsel Krystal Delaney who is prosecuting the case along with Crown Counsel Neville Watson, the sergeant proceeded to read a written statement allegedly dictated to him by the accused on April 29, 2012.
“I am making a blanket objection to all the statements . . .” said Noel who again said that he never made them.
However, the judge allowed the officer to read the contents of the statement again on the grounds that the jury would make a decision on its validity.
The case will continue tomorrow when Noel is expected to cross-examine sergeant Jacob.
The post Noel denies making statements appeared first on Barbados Today.