A Tunapuna man has been sentenced to hang for murdering a neighbour almost 12 years ago.
Trinity “Prack” Lewis received the mandatory death penalty for murder after being found guilty at the end of his judge-alone trial before High Court Judge Kathy-Ann Waterman-Latchoo this week.
Lewis was charged with murdering 25-year-old Mark Anthony Songui at Upper First Trace, Maingot Road, Tunapuna, on December 1, 2011.
Songui was liming with two friends at the side of the road when they were approached by Lewis, who shot Songui several times before running away.
Songui’s brother and his two friends initially gave statements implicating Lewis to the police.
However, when they were called to testify in the trial they were deemed hostile as they claimed that they were reluctant to participate.
Lewis and Songui’s neighbour testified to hearing the gunshots and seeing Lewis running past her home with a gun in his hand.
In assessing the evidence, Justice Waterman-Latchoo noted that the statements provided by Songui’s brother and his two friends were consistent with the account given by their neighbour.
She noted that their claims were credible and reliable.
Although Lewis did not testify in his defence, his lawyers contended that he was not present at the time of the murder and was mistakenly identified by the witnesses.
Lewis was represented by Orin Kerr and Miguel Rawlins, while Indira Chinebas and Makira Mendes prosecuted him.
—DA
