Murder case likened to story of Jesus and Judas
Prosecutor Carrington Mahoney compared the trial of Kevin Warner, accused of murdering “close” friend Dekimo Martin, to a modern day tale of Jesus and Judas.During closing arguments yesterday he told the jury: “Your task is to return a true verdict on the evidence. Nothing more, nothing less. Your task is to ensure that the innocent is not convicted for offences they didn’t commit.“Likewise your task requires you to convict the guilty for the offences that they have committed. No more, no less, no sympathy no prejudice. You act on the evidence and always remember this: Judas was one of the 12.”Mr Mahoney reminded the court of evidence presented by the victim’s cousin Chelsy Lewis, who said she heard Mr Warner and Mr Martin talking outside alone right up until she heard gunshots.He recalled evidence by Charlita Campbell who said the defendant told her people suspected him as the murderer because he was the last to see Mr Martin alive.“From the accused’s own mouth he puts himself as the last person to see Dekimo Martin alive just like the other witnesses have been saying,” Mr Mahoney said.The prosecutor questioned why the accused, a frequent visitor to the victim’s home on Peacock Crescent in Somerset, failed to make contact with the victim’s family after the shooting and “suddenly went off the radar”.“Don’t you find it a bit curious when he went to Charlita Campbell’s premises he said how the family believed he did it. How [did] he know that? He had no contact with them, how did he know that? “Mr Mahoney said evidence by Miss Lewis was that Mr Warner was “acting a little weird”; and while they would normally exchange hugs, he was distant and “didn’t seem like the same Kevin”.The court previously heard that there didn’t appear to be any anger between Mr Martin and Mr Warner that night and they greeted by pumping fists.The prosecutor said: “Do you really need animosity for someone to despise you or to have ulterior motives [intended] for you? You can’t see their thoughts or their hearts. So do not pay any mind to that.“You remember Cain and Abel? I am sure there was no animosity towards them when they went out in the field and [Cain] killed him.”Mr Mahoney also questioned why the defendant had not driven his bike up to the house, like he normally did, and instead left it at neighbouring Butterfield Lane.“It was a brand new bike and [people] do not joke to steal brand new bikes in the Bermuda of today. You move it from the safety of a family friend’s to place it in some off deep location?”He told the jury to consider the fact some gunshot residue compounds were found on Mr Warner’s bike handles. Mr Mahoney said Mr Warner was the only one who rode the bike late that night and the next day.Defence lawyer Kim Hollis QC has represented Mr Warner throughout the eight-day trial, which sees him charged with premeditated murder and carrying a firearm to be used in connection with an indictable offence.Mr Warner, who has denied the charges, opted not to take the stand yesterday and no witnesses were called for the defence.Ms Hollis said the “golden thread” of the criminal justice system was that it was the prosecution’s duty to prove their case.“Kevin Warner does not have to prove his innocence. He is entitled to stay in the dock and say: ‘You say I was responsible for shooting my friend Dekimo whose family was like a second family. You say I did that. You prove it’. “She said it was up to the jury to decide if her 21-year-old client is “really that clever and capable of thinking ahead in that way” to have planned the murder.Ms Hollis pointed out that Mr Warner had volunteered to hand himself in to police. “There was no attempt by him to run or hide at all, was there?”According to evidence by both Ms Campbell and Mr Warner’s motherly figure Inez Dill, he “cried and cried and was extremely emotional about the death of Dekimo Martin”.“Was it an act that he managed to sustain for five hours [while talking with Ms Campbell] or was it genuine?” asked Ms Hollis.She told the jury to take into account her client’s explanation that he had left the house 15 to 20 minutes prior to the shooting and didn’t hear the gunshots fired.Ms Hollis also told the jury to consider there was no evidence in regards to any motive. The case continues before Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves.