The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE trial of a man facing murder, burglary and armed robbery charges over the death of an elderly Eleuthera woman opened in Supreme court yesterday.

Livingston Taylor, 47, of Nassau Village, is accused of breaking into the Rock Sound home of Agnes Sylvia Cates on October 7, 2007, murdering her, and robbing her of her vehicle.
Mrs Cates was found bludgeoned to death in the bedroom of her home.

Taylor denies the charges and is representing himself of his own volition.

Yesterday’s trial commenced with prosecutors Darnell Dorsett and Charles Newbold making an opening address to the jury before calling their first witness.

A police officer testified that he went to the scene and saw what he suspected was blood on the walls leading to the bedroom of Mrs Cates.

The officer said he found the elderly woman lifeless on her bed, wrapped in sheets.

He said the room was bloody.
Taylor did not cross-examine this witness nor did he question David Cates, son of the victim or Remelda Carey, a fellow church member.

Mr Cates testified that he last saw his mother that summer when he and his family vacationed in Rock Sound.

He said he used to speak to her on the phone almost every day.

He and relatives flew to Rock Sounds when they learned of her death and upon looking at the photo albums exhibited in court, began to break down.

Ms Carey testified that the last conversation she had with Mrs Cates was on the evening before she was found dead.

She said their conversation was not a long one and concerned the following day’s church plans.
She was not cross-examined.

A doctor from Eluethera was expected to testify in the afternoon session of court.

However, he was not able to appear and the trial was adjourned to February 25.