Security was tight as the High Court moved from the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, to Poinsettia Drive, Morvant, the scene of the murder of security guard Esan Faria.
On trial before Justice Malcolm Holdip and a jury in the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court is Quincy Samuel. Usually, a jury is taken to a scene from 9 am, but yesterday there was a late start as Holdip was dealing with other matters. Eventually, the jury, judge, court staff, police officers, witnesses, the accused and the media were escorted to the Morvant area by heavily-armed police officers and two motorcycle outriders. At the scene there was more security, supplied by members of the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB), North-Eastern Task Force and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), under the command of Supt Franklyn Edwards and ASP Johnnie Abraham. There was good weather compared to the rainy conditions on Monday. The entourage arrived in Morvant at 11.35 am and immediately Holdip had the court in session. Three policemen were the main witnesses at the scene � Frank McMillan, Simeon James and Richard Prince.
McMillan explained where he parked the police vehicle on December 29, 2005. James told the court he saw the accused running down the steps of Building 10. When Samuel reached the platform, James called out, "Quincy, stop, police." James said Samuel had a black object in his hand, resembling a gun. He said Samuel pointed the object towards him and Prince, following which several loud explosions were heard. James demonstrated to the court how Samuel left the platform of the staircase, firing at himself and Prince.
According to James and Prince, Samuel went to the back of Building 10 and escaped. The court went to the back of the building where James and Prince chased Samuel. While this was taking place, Samuel was in handcuffs, held tightly by two policemen from the Court and Process Branch. Life stopped on Poinsettia Drive as residents looked out to see what was happening. By 12.20 pm, the session of court had ended. It was then back to the Hall of Justice where Holdip eventually adjourned further hearing.
Theodore Guerra SC is representing Samuel, while State attorney Tricia Hudlin-Cooper appears for the State. The State contended that Samuel was seen running from Faria's apartment at Poinsettia Drive moments before police found Faria's body lying in a pool of blood. Officers, who responded to a call from the area, testified that they called out to Samuel, and instructed him to "stop." However, he did not. Samuel ran through some nearby bushes and eluded the police. He was arrested a day later hiding under a bed at a house in Blitz Village, Pleasantville.