The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN accused of murdering her Defence Force husband said shock and fear caused her to call her mother before alerting police about the fatal shooting.

Mikiko Black told prosecutor Anthony Delaney, who asked if there was any reason for her not to call the police first, that she always called her mother in instances when she is afraid and in need of advice.

“How long was that conversation?” the prosecutor asked.

“It was a few minutes” the 25-year-old defendant said, adding that when she told her mother what happened, “she thought it was a joke.”

When she told her mother that it was not a joke, her mother told her to call the police, she said.

The accused has denied the murder charge she faces in connection with the April 19, 2010 fatal shooting of Leonardo Black.

Police found the body of the 27-year-old marine with gunshot wounds to the left side of the face.

The accused was arraigned four days after the incident before Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez. She was not required to enter a plea to the charge.

Black testified that before the April 19, 2010 incident, she and her husband had been evicted from three apartments because of the domestic disputes and fights between them.

She said on the day in question, she and her husband got into an argument that turned physical. The accused also said that the marine threatened to leave her, driving away from their Boil Fish Drive and Adderley Terrace apartment before returning moments later for his clothes.

While in the living room, both Blacks reached for the weapon on the stand and the accused said she only recalled a shot going off and then her husband falling to the floor.

In yesterday’s proceedings, Mr Delaney continued his cross-examination of the defendant. She previously told him that she did not know how to fire a gun.

The prosecutor suggested to the witness that the conversation lasted at least 15 minutes. The accused said “No sir.”

Mr Delaney asked the defendant about the knife she claimed her husband had while the two reached for the gun.

“When he got up from the couch the knife was still in his hand” the defendant said, adding that he reached for the gun when she did the same.

“I’m going to suggest your mother arrived on the scene before the police,” the prosecutor said.

“No sir,” the witness answered.

“I suggest you and others placed the knife in his hand,” the prosecutor put to the accused, who denied the suggestion.

During re-examination, Black’s attorney Moses Bain asked his client if she put the knife in her husband’s hand.

“No sir,” she answered.

“Did you ever threaten your husband in public?” the attorney asked.

“No sir,” the accused said.

The defence then called Kizzie Evans to the witness stand. She testified that the deceased used to be abusive towards Mikiko Black, her neice.

When cross-examined, she admitted that she never saw Leonardo Black actually hit the accused.

The trial resumes today before Justice Vera Watkins.