The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

FOOTAGE of a former Burger King manager being shoved by a masked assailant during an attempted robbery was shown to the man accused of the manager’s murder.

However, when asked by Darnell Dorsett if the man on the video was him, Simeon Bain answered: “I don’t know who that is.”

Bain, 41, of Joe Farrington Road, faces charges of murder, robbery, attempted robbery, housebreaking, and kidnapping in connection with the September 19, 2009 death of 21-year-old Rashad Morris.

Morris was kidnapped from the Charlotte Street branch of Burger King and taken to the highway branch, where he had been the manager.

He was ordered to open the safe and after failing to do so, was stabbed in the restaurant’s parking lot.

Bain denies the charges and is defending himself.

During earlier testimony, Bain alleged that a confession was beaten out of him by police officers.

Yesterday, video footage collected from security cameras at the Tonique Williams-Darling Highway restaurant was shown.

In the footage, Morris is seen dressed in his red shirt and black trousers uniform, being shoved into the restaurant by a heavily built assailant clad in black, wearing a mask and white gloves.

The footage showed a small office area which Morris and the assailant entered. Morris was seen looking at a paper then trying to open the safe, but was unsuccessful.

The robber grabbed Morris by the neck with his left arm and Morris shoved it away only to receive a left hook to his face. Morris fought back but was lifted off the ground and shoved into the wall before being taken outside.

Prosecutor Dorsett put it to the accused that he was the masked culprit in the footage.

“I don’t know who that is,” he answered.

The prosecutor also put it to Bain that he began stabbing Rashad because he was screaming, as he told police in his confession.

“That is what the officer told me to say,” Bain claimed.

“Isn’t it true sir, you told police ‘I remember jookin him in his ribs, back, side’?” the prosecutor asked.

Bain said he did not.

“That’s why he was screaming as you was jooking him up like you told the police,” the prosecutor suggested.

“I have no idea what your talking about” the accused man answered.

“You held him from behind while you were stabbing him about his body,” the prosecutor suggested.

“I have no idea what your talking about,” Bain answered.

The prosecutor had the accused man look at pictures of the scene, particularly, a photo of Morris lying on the parking lot.

“Isn’t it true you know that face, Rashad Morris?” the prosecutor asked.

“I do not know him,” Bain said.

“You cut him to his throat. You cut him almost from ear to ear,” the prosecutor suggested.

“I have no idea what your talking about,” Bain answered.

The prosecutor suggested to Bain that he was lying to the court and had willingly confessed to the police.

Bain denied the suggestion and maintained that police forced him to give the statement.

The trial resumes today before Justice Indra Charles.