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Murder accused wanted to serve as a witness, court hears

Murder accused Kevin Warner wanted to clear his name by turning himself in to police and serving as a witness in the Dekimo Martin case, Supreme Court heard yesterday.The trial of 21-year-old Mr Warner, which began last Monday, heard from a woman described as the defendant’s adopted mother, Inez Dill.Ms Dill told the court she received a call from Mr Warner the evening after the murder and while she spoke with him he appeared “upset, scared and confused”.She said he told her he was the last to see friend Mr Martin alive, but said he left the victim’s home on Peacock Crescent, in Somerset, before the shooting.Mr Warner, of Warwick Park Road, in Warwick, is charged with the premeditated murder of 24-year-old Mr Martin on May 28 last year.He is also accused of carrying a firearm used in connection with an indictable offence on the same date.Represented by lawyers Kim Hollis QC and Elizabeth Christopher, he has pleaded not guilty to both counts.Yesterday prosecutors Carrington Mahoney and Maria Sofianos wrapped up their case after the court heard from more than a dozen witnesses.Mr Warner declined to give evidence and defence lawyer Ms Hollis told the court: “We are calling no witnesses on behalf of the accused for this case.”Ms Dill told the court she developed a close relationship with Mr Warner while serving as a supervisor for Government’s Hustle Truck programme, where the defendant worked from early 2009 until a month prior to the shooting.She said Mr Martin called her on May 28 around 9.30pm and she talked with him before dropping him off at Hamilton Police Station.“He did tell me he was the last to see [the victim] and everyone at that point in time was more or less going against him because he didn’t show his face for the day.“And I said if you haven’t done anything why do you have to go and turn yourself in [to police]. We exchanged words about him being the last to see the deceased and he never elaborated about anything else about committing a crime or anything like that.“He was just upset and wanted to turn himself in as a witness to let them know he had been there.”Ms Dill said the defendant’s friends believed he was the major suspect because he hadn’t been in contact with anyone during that day. “He just wanted to clear himself,” Ms Dill added.She told the court: “At the time I was speaking to Kevin naturally he was scared. He was a bit confused because he couldn’t understand why he was judged by his friends before he even set foot in court.”Ms Dill also said she understood Mr Warner had been doing “some hustles” with his older brother Kavon Hart since stopping work with the Hustle Truck.Mr Hart has been said to be an affiliate of the west end gang MOB (Money Over B*****s), according to gang expert Sergeant Alex Rollin.The court also heard a conversation between Ms Dill and Mr Warner at the police station, which was taped without either of them knowing it.During the talk Ms Dill tried to encourage the defendant to speak to police and give them more information.Mr Warner said in the tapes: “I am not telling them nothing. They can’t find me guilty. How can they find me guilty when no one said I did anything wrong.“No one said there was any problem with us guys and said I hurt the guy. They just said I was the last person with him.”The accused said that officers were known to “twist” his words.He also said there was a difference between when you talked to an officer as a witness and they just write down your statement and when you’re brought in as a suspect and “they question everything you say”.“Why do I have to prove my innocence? I can just keep quiet because I know I didn’t do nothing and nothing ain’t happening to me. I am just going to sit by and let my lawyers handle anything.”The case continues with closing arguments today before Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves.