Japhet Gumbs not guilty of murder

Japhet Gumbs walked away from the High Court a free man on Monday, after a 12-member jury found him not guilty of charges of murder and attempted murder at the High Court.{{more}}

The Park Hill resident was acquitted of the murder of Gregory “Vex” Thomas of Diamond. He was also acquitted of the attempted murder of Biabou resident Adolph Delves, 34.

The crown, led by counsel Ayanna Baptiste-DaBreo put forward evidence that the accused was at Adonis Joslyn’s residence in Canouan on August 5, 2010, fixing a vehicle, when the deceased came there.

An argument ensued between both men, pertaining to whether the accused was a good mechanic.

The court heard that Thomas and Gumbs got into a fight, during which Gumbs was beaten by the deceased.

Thomas left the scene after the fight and Gumbs said he was going to the police station to make a report.

While Thomas and Delves were travelling on a bicycle along Compton Hill, it was alleged that that Gumbs, who was travelling in a vehicle in the opposite direction, took the steering away from Joslyn who was driving, pulled onto the lane in which the bicycle was travelling, causing a collision.

Thomas and Delves were taken to the airport in Canouan to be air-lifted to St Vincent for medical assistance, but the chartered SVG AIR plane that left the E.T.Joshua Airport, piloted by Captain Suresh Lakhram, never made it to Canouan.

The defence, led by attorney Nicole Sylvester contended the deceased had beaten her client so badly that he was in an unconscious state.

Sylvester also argued that her client was on his way to the clinic and in while in an unconscious state, the car got into an accident. She added that Gumbs only woke up after the car in which he was travelling struck the bicycle.

According to Sylvester, it was the driver who pulled the steering and caused the accident. She further argued that while travelling on the bicycle, Thomas brandished a gun.

Sylvester said she was also baffled as to why the driver of the car was not charged since he was the one in control of the vehicle.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT, Sylvester noted that there were too many doubts in the prosecution’s case.

“The prosecution’s evidence was riddled with inconsistencies and discredited by cross-examination…It created reasonable doubt that no properly directed jury could have convicted,” she said.

Counsel Patina Knights and LaKeisha John also appeared with Sylvester for the defence. Attorney Colin John also appeared with Baptiste-DaBreo in the matter.

Justice Wesley James presided over the matter.(KW)