Unanimous guilty verdict for murderer

After admitting to his cousin Inspector Sydney James that he had killed two women, convicted murderer Winston “Winty” Nicholls held hands with police officers and prayed for forgiveness.{{more}}

On Wednesday this week, Nicholls, 37, a contractor, of Kingstown Park, was found guilty on two counts of murder when a 12-member jury decided unanimously on both counts. Nicholls was charged with the murders of his common law wife Aretha Caine, 33, a domestic, of Walvaroo, and Suzette Brookes, 58, a Jamaican, between May 28th and 31st, 2007, at Largo Heights.

The one-day trial saw 12 persons being called to the witness stand to give evidence in the matter. Nicholls will, however, have to wait for a Social Inquiry report and Psychiatric report be handed to the court before his sentencing on October 24.

Prosecution witness Hyatt “Poorpee” Dennie, of Old Montrose, told the court that on Monday, 28th May, he and Nicholls went to Brookes’ home at Largo Height to collect some tools, since they had been repairing parts of the house. Dennie said Brookes and Caine were there. He said he saw Nicholls speaking to Caine, but said he didn’t hear what they were speaking about because he had been standing in the public road. “After they finish talking, he (Nicholls) come ‘par I been and say ah go (expletive) them up.”

Dennie recalled telling Nicholls to behave and that he “Must forget ‘bout that because it have plenty more woman out there,” he added. Dennie said a van then came to carry both women to the Fisherman’s Day activities at Calliaqua. Dennie further stated that he and Nicholls left for their home at Kingstown Park. While there, the witness said they both consumed brandy and vodka, among other alcoholic drinks, because Sunset strong rum was scarce at that time.

Dennie said he had been cooking when Nicholls left home. “When he reach back I been kinda sleeping and he tell me, yuh think is joke I been making.” Dennie told the court that he was so sleepy that he did not respond to what had been said by Nicholls.

Two days later, as the news spread about the women’s deaths, Dennie said Nicholls told him that the police would be coming to question him and that he (Dennie) should not mention anything to them. Police picked up both men that same day. Dennie was released later that week.

Investigating officer Inspector Sydney James, who is Nicholls’ cousin, told presiding Judge Frederick Bruce-Lyle that the defendant had said that Dennie’s statement was all lies. James said that Dennie, in Nicholls presence at the Criminal Investigations Department, was asked to relate the same story in front of Nicholls. At that point, James said he received a telephone call stating that the alleged murder weapon had been found in a river behind Brookes’ house. Inspector James said Nicholls became uneasy and the looked up at the ceiling and said: “Cuz, forgive me,” and then he asked the officers there to hold hands in a circle and prayed to God for forgiveness for killing Aretha and Suzette,” Inspector James sadly recalled.

As he listened to the evidence in the case, Nicholls sat in the dock without a sign of emotion on his face.

James told the court that in the second statement, Nicholls demonstrated how he hid behind the porch wall and waited for the women to open the door to the house. He said that Nicholls said that while the women were feeding their rabbits, he snuck into the house and hid behind one of the bedroom doors. He added that he heard Brookes telling Caine to “Shame me up in the street anytime she see me because every time I get money I always renting car.” James stated that Nicholls told him that he saw Brookes coming and swiped the hatchet across her face. He then went into the living room where Caine was screaming and he proceeded to chop her about the body too

The defendant took James to Lodge Village to a latrine pit where he had hid his clothing and to Kingstown Park where he had hid his shoes underneath some dead breadfruit leaves.

A post mortem report done by Dr Ronald Child stated that both women died from multiple chop wounds about the head.

None of the witnesses were cross-examined by Nicholls’ attorney Nicole Sylvester, as she had been so instructed by her client. At the beginning of the Assizes last Tuesday, Nicholls pleaded guilty to both charges. However, that plea was not accepted and a not guilty plea was entered.

Sylvester said that in her 19 years of practice it was the first time she had seen a defendant take such a position in a murder matter and stated that it was highly commendable of him. Justice Bruce Lyle also echoed Sylvester’s comments.

Director of Public Prosecutions Colin Williams signaled his intention of withdrawing a request for the death penalty.