The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

SECURITY surveillance blacked out the evening before a millionaire podiatrist was found dead at his home in Old Fort Bay, a Supreme Court jury heard yesterday.

The fifth day of the high-profile murder trial of Donna Vasyli heard evidence from Detective Sergeant Fraymond Johnson about his role in the investigation into the fatal stabbing of 59-year-old Philip Vasyli on March 24. He said surveillance footage at the house showed nothing after 7.45pm the previous night as “all the cameras went black”.

Mrs Vasyli, 55, denies fatally stabbing her husband at their home on Ocean Drive.

Sgt Johnson, a detective of 11 years currently attached to the Central Detective Unit’s Technical Division, told prosecutor Neil Braithwaite that he was trained in computer programming, intrusions, alarm systems and closed circuit television. Some of his training, he said, was done with the US Secret Service and was sponsored by the Organisation of American States.

On March 24 Sgt Johnson said he was on duty at CDU when he received certain information from Inspector Johnson. “As a result, I travelled to Old Fort Bay where I met Inspector Johnson who led me to a residence at Old Fort Bay,” the detective-technician said. “I proceeded to the third floor where he gave me additional information and instructions.”

“Did you speak with anyone else while you were there?” the prosecutor asked.

Sgt Johnson said he did not and said that he “proceeded to a network video recorder that had been installed at that residence. It was a Vivo-Tech Four Channel NVR connected to four IP cameras fixed on that residence.”

He said he disconnected the device and took it to CDU “where I labelled and examined it. I then connected the NVR to a private network in our forensic lab and downloaded video images from that NVR onto our computer which is a forensic-clean computer.”

The detective said he burnt images from the surveillance to a compact disc (CD) and placed it an envelope which he marked and signed for future identification.

Sgt Johnson said he brought three CDs to court. The first contained video footage of activity at the residence between 5.46pm and 7.20pm while the second covered between 7.20pm and 7.45pm. The third CD held the still images of the other CDs.

Mr Braithwaite asked if there was any other activity beyond 7.45pm. The witness said no because after that mark “all the cameras went black”.

Mr Braithwaite asked for the footage to be shown from 6.27pm. The detective said around that time, two people could be seen walking up to the house.

At 6.43pm, another two figures are shown walking up to the house. Sgt Johnson said there was a male seen walking out of shot at 6.58pm.

Neither of Mrs Vaslyi’s lawyers, Elliot Lockhart, QC, nor Murrio Ducille, cross-examined him.

Earlier, Inspector Marvin Cargill of the CDU testified that on March 27 around 2pm, he was attending an alleged homicide scene at a home at the Lilly Pond in the Old Fort Bay community.

He said he received certain information from Corporal 2578 Martin and a suspect present with him directed him throughout the scene.

Inspector Cargill said he photographed several areas throughout the house and made a number of observations, including the sight of suspected marijuana in packages, 15 cigarettes, cigars, metal grinders with marijuana as well as a crack pipe.

Inspector Cargill said he also observed a dress and bra hanging up in a closet which he collected and packaged for analysis.

Mr Ducille objected to the relevance of the detective’s evidence about March 27 on the basis that his observations and items collected in the house of then-suspect Quinten de Graaf had no connection to his client or the case in question.

Following legal submissions in the absence of the jury, Inspector Cargill was allowed to break the seal on the package and displayed the multi-coloured dress and beige bra he found at the home on March 27.

When cross-examined by Mr Lockhart, the detective was asked if he had enquired as to how long the two items had been at that residence. Inspector Cargill said he did not and agreed that he did not investigate a connection between the accused and the two items.

“Did you get any information back from the lab that what you saw was in fact blood?” Mr Lockhart asked.

“No, sir,” the witness said.

The case resumes today at 10am before Acting Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs.