UPDATE: Chief witness names 'Lil Rod' & 'Eddo' in alleged murder conspiracy
Penn was on the stand for about two days and had given a detailed account about the alleged plot.
He testified that Rodney Simmonds aka ‘Lil Rod’ and a Larry were present as Edwards was allegedly "suiting up" to go and kill Melbourne Francis aka ‘Trouble’. Penn told the court that he was the one that prepared the gun, which was used and waited with the crew for ‘trouble’ to come in the area. They were in the vicinity of the Taz in Long Look/East End at that time.
The witness further said they were about to change their minds after a while of wait but ‘Trouble’ eventually came around. “He went to Baird vehicle and then left. Edwards then went to Baird and they went up the hill,” Penn told the court.
Penn also said that as he was at ‘Basha’s’ place he heard gun shots ringing out and upon going outside "a ghost" passed him in a white lancer. He was referring to Francis. “He was supposed to be dead.”
He said he then saw 'Lil Rod', Larry and Edwards passed behind minutes later. He said when Edwards came out the vehicle he was cursing because he "missed his catch".
According to the witness in chief, it was the job of Larry to get rid of the clothing that was used by Edwards in the alleged murder attempt. He also said Larry panicked as they were passing the East End Police Station and saw Trouble’s vehicle in the yard. He said Larry was trembling.
The witness said they then went to his grandmother's place with the clothes and gun and he cleaned the gun the next day.
Dr Archibald and Stephen Daniel are representing Simmonds Jr and Edwards respectively and are likely to put forward their defense when court convenes today October 22, 2013. The trial is likely to come to an end by the end of this week.
See previous article posted October 16, 2013
UPDATE: Simmonds Jr admitted to hearing of alleged plot to murder Francis
-Yan Edwards denied shooting at Melbourne Francis on March 13, 2011 – Video Interview
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Video evidence admitted in the High Court today October 16, 2013 of interviews done by officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) with the two accused of conspiring to murder Cornel Melbourne Francis heard testimonies of one denying being involved and the other allegedly being told of the plot.
The video evidences were led by RVIPF’s Jason Harford and Gilbert Charles. They had reportedly conducted the interview with Yan Edwards on March 15, 2011 while Rodney Simmonds’ was done on April 5, 2011.
“Why I going to shoot my friend? I never had a problem with this man,” Yan Edwards had told the officers during the interview.
However, Edwards also displayed a high level of disgust and unwillingness to cooperate with the officers, frequently saying “no comments”. Following the persistence of the officers, Edwards began responding periodically during which time he had said that he was not involved in the shooting of Melbourne Francis on March 13, 2011.
“I don’t deal with crime at all. I don’t know nothing about no crime. How can I assist you with any investigation and I tell you I don’t know nothing about no crime,” said Edwards. He told the investigating officers that he had known Melbourne Francis. “I know he, I just told you that he was my friend… You look like you want tie me into something.”
Asked if he had shot after Mr Francis on March 13, 2011 he responded, “No”. Asked where he was on the night in question, Edwards responded, “I was with my outside girl and I aint want police in my business. I don’t want police come asking me all kind of question what I don’t know about… My girlfriend doesn’t live here. My girlfriend doesn’t live on Tortola …My woman is a well educated woman with eight years in the army…My woman probably left about Tuesday or so ….”
On the other hand, during the investigations with Simmonds Jr on April 5, 2011 the court heard him testify that one “Larry” had told him about a plot to kill Melbourne Francis. He said he understood that the reason was because Melbourne had stolen something from someone. He said he had feared for his life and did not tell the police or anyone else about the plan.
“I didn’t know who to tell, I didn’t tell no body … I know my life was in danger… He just tell me not to tell nobody,” Simmonds Jr told the officers.
“I know I innocent, I know that,” Rodney Simmonds Jr emphasized.
See previous article posted October 15, 2013
‘I did not see who fired shots at me’– Deposition testimony of Melbourne Francis
Victim had suffered injuries to his left hand & shoulder & back of head
Magistrate’s Court staff Ms Marisia Gillard, under oath today October 15, 2013 in the High Court of the Virgin Islands, read the deposition of testimony that was given by Cornel Melbourne Francis prior to his death.
Mr Francis had testified that he had not seen who fired shots at the vehicle he was driving but did see one ‘Larry Shaf’ in the driver’s seat on the night of the shooting, March 13, 2011.
As the deposition was being read persons, who were close to the now deceased Cornel Melbourne Francis, were moved to tears.
The deposition was read as part of the evidence in the trial of Yan Edwards and Rodney Simmonds Jr currently in progress in the High Court of the Virgin Islands.
According to the alleged statement given by Mr Francis, he had known Rodney Simmonds Jr for about five years and Yan Edwards for about twelve years.
“I don’t get along with Rodney Simmonds Jr. He stopped talking to me and I do the same…. I have not threatened Mr Simmonds at anytime. I never show Mr Simmonds any hand gestures,” said Francis.
In the deposition, Francis said that on March 13, 2011 he was driving a vehicle belonging to his father in the Nottingham Estate area when he came under a hail of gunfire during which he was wounded and resulted in him subsequently being hospitalized for seven days at Peebles Hospital.
“I never threatened Mr Edwards. I never told anyone I was going to kill anyone.” He said that on January 21, 2011 he had seen Simmonds Jr in The Stickett and had asked him about the whereabouts of Edwards. “He asked me if I see Eddo, I tell him he over there in the yard.”
He recalled on March 13, 2011 as seeing Simmonds Jr while he was on the park catching a ride. He said that he had seen Edwards in the Stickett area the very evening but did not speak to him.
According to the evidence, it was that very night Francis recalled being shot at. “I heard a loud explosion…my tyres blow out then I realize the car start driving different.. and I start driving, as I reach a dark side of the road I heard pow pow pow, I ducked, I put my hand up. I said in my mind somebody shooting at me. I mash the gas, I was still hearing pow pow pow behind of the car. It sound like gunshot firing,” Francis had said in his statement.
He had also stated that when he took down his hand he saw one of his fingers hanging from his left hand. “I take the right hand touch my head and there was a lot of blood running down.”
Mr Francis had continued in his written statement that he heard more shots firing as he had slowed to turn a sharp corner. The shots then reportedly stopped and he saw a dark coloured car pass him and then slow down. He stated that he slowed down next to it and it was then he allegedly saw ‘Larry Shaff’. “When he saw me he pulled back his head. I shake my head at him and kept going.” Mr Francis reportedly then drove to the East End Police Station and then proceeded to Peebles Hospital where he was admitted for seven days.
He also stated that while he did not see Edwards after the shooting he did see Simmonds Jr.
Cornel Melbourne Francis aka Trouble was shot and killed at The Stickett in Long Look on May 9, 2013.
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