‘He started swinging with knife’

Station Sergeant Kenwyn Samruh was testifying in Supreme Court No. 3A yesterday before Justice Anthony Blackman, where Walcott, 59, of Dash Valley, St George, and Ryan Oneal Walcott, 52, of Lower Crescent, Gall Hill, Christ Church, have denied entering Anthony Seale’s home as a trespasser between May 9 and 10, 2021, inflicting serious bodily harm on him, and had a gun and a sword at the time.

The officer read from his notes that Nigel told police that when he went to his house on the morning of the incident, he was confronted by Seale standing at the back door with “a shiny object”. The officer said that Nigel related how he took out a knife after Seale attacked him and started “swinging”, stopping only when he realised Seale was no longer putting up a fight.

Nigel’s statement to police read that he took both Alan Leacock and the knife with him that morning because of past behaviour, where Seale pulled a knife on him, released dogs on him and had “run him” off his own property. Whenever there was an incident he reported it to the District “B” Police Station, but the officer said he found no such reports against Seale.

Shown photographs by Acting Principal State Counsel Romario Straker, Sumrah identified a “red substance” on the wooden entrance of the front doorway, as well as on the door frame of another door nearby. Nigel also pointed out a brownhandled knife at the scene as the one Seale used, he said.

The officer read Nigel’s written statement in which the accused recounted going to his house because his stereo equipment, television and other items had been “constantly missing” and he felt it was Seale trespassing. He usually reported instances of theft and trespassing, he said.

That early morning as he approached his house, the neighbour’s dogs started barking and as he entered the back doorway, Seale swung at him with a shiny object and his right hand got injured, the statement read.

Seale kept swinging and he felt an injury to his neck and shoulder so he pulled out a knife, the two of them scuffled and he continued swinging “until the scuffling reached the outer perimeter of the house”. When Seale was no longer putting up a fight and the threat to his own life “had diminished to a point”, he heard

Alan shout “come along Nigel, come along”, and they left. On the way to District “B” Police Station, blood was dripping from his hands and the sword; it felt uncomfortable, so he “threw the sword through the window,” the statement continued.

Under cross-examination by attorney Kyle Walkes, representing Nigel Walcott, Sumrah agreed that all accounts needed to be investigated to get the truth. Admitting that he had not yet spoken to the complainant when he spoke to Nigel, the witness said he knew what to put to Walcott based on information he received from a Constable Holder, regarding Seale’s injuries.

He agreed Nigel Walcott had a totally different account from Seale.

Sumrah confirmed that Nigel had injuries to one palm and between the web of his fingers, and was treated by paramedics. He also agreed the accused told him he was attacked by the back door, but he never had that area photographed because he felt the photographs taken sufficed.

The officer said Seale told of being in bed and a light being shone in his face and “he never said he was lying in a chair when the incident started”.

In response to questions from attorney Martie Garnes, representing accused Ryan Walcott, Sumrah said he was one of the policemen who went to Ryan’s home to execute a search warrant. However, neither a firearm nor ammunition was found.

Although Ryan said he was at home at the time of the incident, the complainant had named both Nigel and Ryan Walcott as the men who entered his home, the officer stated.

Sumrah also agreed that it was quiet at 2 a.m. when the incident occurred and the house next door was about 28 feet away, but apart from the complainant Seale, no other witness spoke of hearing “shoot he Nigga”.

State Counsel Treann Knight and Eleazar Williams are also appearing on behalf of the State, while attorney Tristan Elcock is representing Nigel Walcott, along with Walkes.

The case is expected to continue today. (SD)