Rory
08-04-06, - 01:14 AM
http://www.thenassauguardian.com/national_local/313683609926907.php
Francis says he's innocent
By LEDEDRA MARCHE, Senior FN Reporter
lededra@nasguard.com
In all of six minutes, accused murderer Fredrick Francis told the jury Wednesday how he was threatened and coaxed into a confession.
Francis, 24, is on trial in Freeport for the murder of Austrians visitors Bernhard Bolzano and Barbara Frein von Perfall.
The couple was shot in their hotel room at the Bimini Blue Water Resort on July 23, 2005.
Bolzano, 35, was shot in the back and Perfall, 32, in her chest. She was also raped. They were found hours later by a maid.
The prosecution closed its case yesterday after four days of testimony which included police evidence on Tuesday of a videotape confession given by the accused.
The video tape showed Francis pointed out meticulously how he left home, executed the crime, got away, returned home and hid the shotgun and other evidence.
Opting to make an unsworn statement from the prisoner's dock yesterday and bypass cross-examination from the prosecution, Francis, who was still standing, turned to his right and faced the jury.
Francis is charged with rape, armed robbery and two counts of murder, but told the six-woman, six-man jury yesterday how he came to confess.
In fact, he said he first denied all questions that were put to him concerning the matter and a firearm. Francis said he was at the Bimini Police Station on July of last year when he was escorted into a room filled with police officers. He said that he had requested his lawyer but was given no assistance. He told the court he was put in a chair and handcuffed.
The accused said Inspector Cleophas Cooper had three plastic bags and tripled them all in one and Sergeant Daryl Rolle stood alongside him with a cutlass in his hand that was wrapped in newspaper.
Francis said Sgt. Rolle told him, "If you don't say what I want you to say, there will be more to come than just a bag."
Then he told the jury, "the video tape that you saw yesterday, everything I said was dictated to me by Sgt. Rolle and Inspector Cooper," adding that that wasn't the first time they had gone to his residence or the crime scene.
In fact, Francis said the video tape that was shown Tuesday was after the third take.
"It was like a rehearsal, cause like I said, I never admitted to this murder," Francis reiterated.
He said Inspector Cooper had placed the bags over his head four times at four second intervals.
"On the last time I almost black out," he revealed. He pointed out that other people had been locked up as well, but were let go.
"They never arrested me. I was on bail then and went to sign in," said Francis.
Wrapping up his defence, Francis stressed, there was no proof he shot the gun, no witnesses to say they saw him, no proof to say he had sex with the baroness and his fingerprints were not found in the building.
"The amount of times they told you they interviewed me was a lie. They had more dealings with me," he said. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am innocent of this crime,"
he said. "I have no knowledge of this. But the Lord sees and knows everything. Therefore, I leave it in His hands."
Following his statement, defence attorney Carlson Shurland informed the court that it had closed its case.
Both sides made their submissions during the afternoon session in a last effort to seal their case.
Prosecutor SandraDee Gardiner pointed out that Francis believed he had gotten away with the perfect crime in the absence of DNA or his fingerprints, but noted that God had created us with a conscience and that's why he confessed.
She pointed out that a physician had seen him twice and found that he had no markings on him, had not complained and appeared normal, even in the video.
Defence attorney Shurland reminded the jury that they must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Francis was guilty.
Referring to his client's claim of police brutality, Shurland said it was unusual for Francis to be taken to the doctor twice in one day.
Justice Stephen Isaacs is expected to sum up the trial this morning before the jury deliberates and returns with a verdict.
Francis says he's innocent
By LEDEDRA MARCHE, Senior FN Reporter
lededra@nasguard.com
In all of six minutes, accused murderer Fredrick Francis told the jury Wednesday how he was threatened and coaxed into a confession.
Francis, 24, is on trial in Freeport for the murder of Austrians visitors Bernhard Bolzano and Barbara Frein von Perfall.
The couple was shot in their hotel room at the Bimini Blue Water Resort on July 23, 2005.
Bolzano, 35, was shot in the back and Perfall, 32, in her chest. She was also raped. They were found hours later by a maid.
The prosecution closed its case yesterday after four days of testimony which included police evidence on Tuesday of a videotape confession given by the accused.
The video tape showed Francis pointed out meticulously how he left home, executed the crime, got away, returned home and hid the shotgun and other evidence.
Opting to make an unsworn statement from the prisoner's dock yesterday and bypass cross-examination from the prosecution, Francis, who was still standing, turned to his right and faced the jury.
Francis is charged with rape, armed robbery and two counts of murder, but told the six-woman, six-man jury yesterday how he came to confess.
In fact, he said he first denied all questions that were put to him concerning the matter and a firearm. Francis said he was at the Bimini Police Station on July of last year when he was escorted into a room filled with police officers. He said that he had requested his lawyer but was given no assistance. He told the court he was put in a chair and handcuffed.
The accused said Inspector Cleophas Cooper had three plastic bags and tripled them all in one and Sergeant Daryl Rolle stood alongside him with a cutlass in his hand that was wrapped in newspaper.
Francis said Sgt. Rolle told him, "If you don't say what I want you to say, there will be more to come than just a bag."
Then he told the jury, "the video tape that you saw yesterday, everything I said was dictated to me by Sgt. Rolle and Inspector Cooper," adding that that wasn't the first time they had gone to his residence or the crime scene.
In fact, Francis said the video tape that was shown Tuesday was after the third take.
"It was like a rehearsal, cause like I said, I never admitted to this murder," Francis reiterated.
He said Inspector Cooper had placed the bags over his head four times at four second intervals.
"On the last time I almost black out," he revealed. He pointed out that other people had been locked up as well, but were let go.
"They never arrested me. I was on bail then and went to sign in," said Francis.
Wrapping up his defence, Francis stressed, there was no proof he shot the gun, no witnesses to say they saw him, no proof to say he had sex with the baroness and his fingerprints were not found in the building.
"The amount of times they told you they interviewed me was a lie. They had more dealings with me," he said. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am innocent of this crime,"
he said. "I have no knowledge of this. But the Lord sees and knows everything. Therefore, I leave it in His hands."
Following his statement, defence attorney Carlson Shurland informed the court that it had closed its case.
Both sides made their submissions during the afternoon session in a last effort to seal their case.
Prosecutor SandraDee Gardiner pointed out that Francis believed he had gotten away with the perfect crime in the absence of DNA or his fingerprints, but noted that God had created us with a conscience and that's why he confessed.
She pointed out that a physician had seen him twice and found that he had no markings on him, had not complained and appeared normal, even in the video.
Defence attorney Shurland reminded the jury that they must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Francis was guilty.
Referring to his client's claim of police brutality, Shurland said it was unusual for Francis to be taken to the doctor twice in one day.
Justice Stephen Isaacs is expected to sum up the trial this morning before the jury deliberates and returns with a verdict.