The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A SUPREME Court jury heard yesterday that a man with his washing bundle in hand was on his way to the laundromat when he was approached by another man and stabbed in the back.

During the prosecution’s opening address in the murder trial of 38-year-old Hilfrant Joseph, the jury was given an overview of the alleged facts that led to the December 6, 2002 stabbing death of Christopher Butler.

Butler, of Hawkins Hill, collected his clothes into pillow sacks to go to the laundromat. He caught a ride to the laundromat on Eight Terrace with his neighbour.

After getting out of his car with his washing in hand, he made his way toward the laundromat where he was approached by a man and stabbed in the back.

The prosecution alleges that Joseph, of Millers Height, is the culprit behind the murder. Joseph denies the murder charge.

In court yesterday, several witnesses relating to the 10-year-old case testified.

Detective Sgt Marvin Cargill of the Central Detective Unit said he was attached to the Crime Scene Investigation Unit on the afternoon in question, as he still is to date.

He told the court that his role was to photograph the scene and have negatives developed from them.

Also testifying yesterday was Dr Caryn Sands, a pathologist at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

Dr Sands said she was not the original pathologist who performed an autopsy on Butler’s body. The original person is no longer employed at PMH.

The court heard that Butler died from his left lung being ruptured from the stab wound to the middle left side of his back.

The wound was three and a quarter inches deep and some 800ml of blood was found in his chest cavity.
Joseph’s attorney, Terrel Butler, asked the physician if a stab wound of that nature could occur from two persons facing each other involved in the struggle.

Dr Sands said it would not have mattered the position the two would’ve been facing as the stab wound came from the back.

The prosecution called no further witnesses. The trial was adjourned to Monday.