bahamiangoddess
05-22-08, - 11:40 AM
Fearful murder witness left town, Supreme Court heard
By ARTESIA DAVIS, Guardian Senior Reporter, artesia@nasguard.com
A man who witnessed the murder of Keith Dean was so afraid that he left New Providence for almost a year, a Supreme Court jury heard yesterday.
James McKenzie, 24, who is better known by the street name "Danger Mouse", is on trial for Dean's December 13, 2006 murder.
The 27-year-old witness, whose name has been withheld because he is under protective custody, said McKenzie walked up to Dean and shot him as he left the One Family Junkanoo practice, that was being held in the parking lot of the old City Market Food Store on Market Street. The witness said he and another man were with Dean.
The witness claimed that he asked McKenzie, whom he knows, "What you dealing with?" According to the witness, McKenzie replied that "everything was cool."
But that's when McKenzie allegedly stood over Dean and finished him off.
The man recalled, "He [Dean] was down on the ground, holding his side. He [McKenzie] see the man fighting for his life, and he still gone there and shoot him down."
He continued, "I ran after I saw my boy get more corn [bullets] put in him."
The witness said he was so afraid that he did not go home and he chose to sleep at his sister's home in Pinewood that night. He decided to leave for Eleuthera the following day, when he learned that another friend had been shot in the incident. The man said he did not return to Nassau until last October, and that's when he gave his account of the incident to police.
According to the witness, the accused and his uncle, Samuel "Mouche" McKenzie, had threatened his family. He said, "I was looking out for me."
Defense lawyer Richard Bootle suggested that the witness was motivated to lie because Mckenzie was dating one of his former girlfriends.
The man replied, "I have no problem with that. I have all kind of girls, man. Girls don't move me."
The case continues before Supreme Court Justice Stephen Isaacs. Cheryl Grant-Bethell, the director of public prosecutions, is the prosecutor. She is assisted by Stephanie Pintard and Sean Adderley.
By ARTESIA DAVIS, Guardian Senior Reporter, artesia@nasguard.com
A man who witnessed the murder of Keith Dean was so afraid that he left New Providence for almost a year, a Supreme Court jury heard yesterday.
James McKenzie, 24, who is better known by the street name "Danger Mouse", is on trial for Dean's December 13, 2006 murder.
The 27-year-old witness, whose name has been withheld because he is under protective custody, said McKenzie walked up to Dean and shot him as he left the One Family Junkanoo practice, that was being held in the parking lot of the old City Market Food Store on Market Street. The witness said he and another man were with Dean.
The witness claimed that he asked McKenzie, whom he knows, "What you dealing with?" According to the witness, McKenzie replied that "everything was cool."
But that's when McKenzie allegedly stood over Dean and finished him off.
The man recalled, "He [Dean] was down on the ground, holding his side. He [McKenzie] see the man fighting for his life, and he still gone there and shoot him down."
He continued, "I ran after I saw my boy get more corn [bullets] put in him."
The witness said he was so afraid that he did not go home and he chose to sleep at his sister's home in Pinewood that night. He decided to leave for Eleuthera the following day, when he learned that another friend had been shot in the incident. The man said he did not return to Nassau until last October, and that's when he gave his account of the incident to police.
According to the witness, the accused and his uncle, Samuel "Mouche" McKenzie, had threatened his family. He said, "I was looking out for me."
Defense lawyer Richard Bootle suggested that the witness was motivated to lie because Mckenzie was dating one of his former girlfriends.
The man replied, "I have no problem with that. I have all kind of girls, man. Girls don't move me."
The case continues before Supreme Court Justice Stephen Isaacs. Cheryl Grant-Bethell, the director of public prosecutions, is the prosecutor. She is assisted by Stephanie Pintard and Sean Adderley.