Five witnesses called in contractor murder case

When the Criminal Assizes continued on Wednesday at the High Court in Kingstown, it was Edson Maloney’s turn to answer charges brought against him.{{more}}

Maloney, a 29-year-old contractor of Richland Park was charged with the March 28, 2006 murder of Kendol Joseph, 32, labourer also of the same address, which took place at Akers.

A post mortem carried out on the body revealed that Joseph died as a result of a single stab wound to the chest.

So far, the case has seen a total of five witnesses giving evidence in the matter.

One key witness, Kelvin John of Richland Park said that on the day of the incident he was part of a crew constructing a two-storey building at Akers. Joseph, who was also working on the project, was on the lower floor of the building. John said that Maloney, the foreman, who was on the upper floor of the building called to Joseph for a piece of 1×4 board to hold up a structure.

John said that Joseph did not respond to Maloney’s call and Maloney got upset. “Mr Maloney said, way de (expletive) yo mean Edson aint hear me. Joseph replied by saying, “Edson I am not your child, I’m working with you.”

John added that Maloney told Joseph to shut up and that it was his project. Joseph replied, “I’m arguing for my rights.” Maloney is said to have told the deceased if he wanted to argue for his rights, he should leave the job.

Upon realizing Maloney was serious, Joseph went upstairs to where he was and told him to pay him if he was going to fire him. Maloney replied, “I aint ha no money and me aint paying till Friday.”

After collecting his belongings from the work site, Joseph was told by Maloney that he wasn’t paying him because he destroyed his plane blade.

John said Maloney went downstairs and what he heard was Maloney saying, “Way yo hit me wid de pick foot fa?” John said he saw Maloney run to the storeroom and return with a shovel that he used to hit the deceased.

“Edson I don’t want to do you anything, I have a family and I dus think before I act,” said Joseph.

John Said Maloney ran to his vehicle and pulled out a knife. He then returned to where Joseph was, dropped the shovel and pulled Joseph by his hand, and stabbed him in the chest. “All I could see was Kendol turn around and fall on his back. He said Maloney stood there for a while in a frozen position.

Two other workers came and carried Joseph to Maloney’s jeep. He was then transported to the Calder clinic where he was pronounced dead.

Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Nicole Sylvester, John denied that there had been a scuffle between the two men. John admitted that he and Maloney had fallen out a week prior to the incident, and it was Joseph who intervened so that he (John) could return to the job.

The case is being presided by Justice Gertel Thom and Acting Director of Public Prosecution, Colin Williams, leads the Prosecution.