Point Fortin resident Lionel Shade was remanded into custody yesterday after he pleaded guilty to fatally kicking a man in the stomach with steel-tipped boots at his home 12 years ago.Shade, 49, pleaded guilty yesterday to unlawfully killing Wayne Abraham, also known as "Bram," in 2002. He appeared before Justice Hayden Douglas-St Clair in the San Fernando First Assizes.
Refusing a request by defence attorney Jason Jackson for Shade to remain on bail until sentencing, the judge said: "Your client has pleaded guilty to taking a man's life. The presumption of innocence no longer applies. He will be taken into custody."State attorney Sarah de Silva, who was assisted by Shabana Shah, said the incident took place at Shade's home in Egypt Village on July 27, 2002.She said Shade, William Paul and Andre Felix were at Shade's home, where he was installing louvres, when the victim arrived.
Abraham began pulling Shade by the shoulder, saying: "Lio, Lio," and Shade responded, "Bram, leave me, let me do my work."But Abraham continued pulling on Shade's shoulder.Shade eventually held his arm, took him to the front door and told him: "Come out my house, boy."Abraham did not leave and Shade continued installing the louvres.When Abraham pulled Shade's shoulder for a fourth time, Shade staggered and then slapped him and kicked him in the stomach.
Abraham held his stomach, sat down for a few minutes and then left. That night he was treated and warded at the San Fernando General Hospital after he suffered stomach pains and vomiting.During the 19 days he remained warded, he underwent two operations and died at the hospital on August 16, 2002.A post-mortem by forensic pathologist Dr Hughvon des Vignes revealed death was as a result of traumatic pancreatitis and bowel perforation caused by the use of blunt force with a severe degree of magnitude.
A forceful kick could cause the injuries, the pathologist said in his report.Among the exhibits tendered into evidence was the pair of steel-tipped boots which Shade wore when he kicked the deceased.Shade admitted to the police that he kicked Abraham but said he did not mean to kill him.He told the arresting officer, Sgt Donald Denoon: "I don't know how all of that happen. I don't know what to say. To say I aim to kill him, I didn't do that. I didn't expect that to happen."
Shade will be sentenced after Jackson, instructed by Chantal Paul, makes his plea in mitigation on June 4.