THE WHOLE TRUTH.
That was how serious bodily harm accused and Barbados national footballer Kadeem Atkins described his evidence to police yesterday.
Atkins, 27, of Deacons Farm, St Michael, was giving his defence when his trial continued in the No 5 Supreme Court. He opted to remain in the dock for an unsworn statement.
“The evidence I gave to police on the day of the incident was the whole truth. I have never been charged before,” he said in his short statement. Also testifying was defence witness Jason Worrell, a sailor of the Barbados Coast Guard, who told the court he was with Atkins, a schoolmate, in the Lower Green van stand when complainant Omar Layne passed and “brushed Kadeem”.
“He said, ‘They got bare (insulting words) ’bout here’ and then he turn ’round and chuck Kadeem,” the witness said.
“From there, he and Kadeem was fighting out there. That is all I saw,” Worrell said, adding the accused was pulled off the complainant Crown Counsel Neville Watson, the witness said Layne was with a female. He said he was with Atkins and some other “fellas from the national team”.
He said he did not know the name of the soldier, but that he was in uniform that day. He said he saw the soldier after Layne had fallen.
“That is when he came and held Kadeem,” the Coast Guard sailor said.
The fight, he added, lasted about 15 minutes. “First Omar chuck he. Then Omar cuff he in he face. Then Kadeem handle himself.”
by a soldier.
When cross-examined by
