Anthony Morrison, the man who was accused of murdering his common-law wife, Donna Thomas between May 25 and 26 2012, is expected to soon know his fate as the defence and prosecution concluded their closing arguments on Wednesday.
On Monday, a 12-member jury was empanelled at the Demerara High Court before Justice Sandhill Kissoon to hear the retrial of Morrison’s case.
At Wednesday’s hearing, the accused led his own defence via an unsworn statement from the prisoner’s dock, which meant that he could not be questioned, or cross-examined. He however told the 12-member jury that on May 25, 2012, Donna woke him up and told him she was going out sometime in the day. He however admitted that sometime before she left, they argued.
Morrison further informed the jury that sometime after 16:00h, he left home to go to the market and when he supposedly returned the following morning, he heard about the woman’s murder. The accused man did not call any witnesses in his defence. The State is being represented by Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Mandell Moore while Attorney Maxwell McKay is defending Morrison.
Donna Thomas’ body was found in a pool of blood with several stab wounds at the Lot 65 Cross and D’Urban Streets, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown apartment she shared with Morrison. Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh had given the cause of Thomas’ death as asphyxiation due to compression to the neck, compounded by blunt force trauma to the head.
According to Dr Singh, the deceased had 16 incised wounds to one hand, while the other hand had six. These, he said, were considered to be defensive wounds, which were not fatal but contributed to significant bleeding. Thomas died as a result of being deprived of oxygen and the heart stopping, Singh had explained.
Justice Kissoon is expected to sum up the case soon. After this, the matter will be put to the jury which will deliberate for at least two hours and make a determination of innocence or guilt.
