The defendant in a murder trial cross-examined several police officers who took the stand yesterday.

Kamal Worrell has denied charges of murdering Chavelle Dillon-Burgess on an unknown date between April 10 and June 11, 2020.

He has also denied a charge of wounding Ms Dillon-Burgess and a charge of common assault related to an incident on June 1, 2019, and six counts of common assault related to an incident on November 14, 2018.

Yesterday he finished the cross-examination of Detective Inspector Jason Smith, the lead investigator in his case, whom he had questioned for about three days.

Mr Worrell suggested earlier that the officer directly gave him the charge sheet when he was accused of cutting the strap on his electric tag.

He added that he was charged for the offence in 2021, but the sheet said that the offence happened in 2019.

Mr Smith said that while he recognised the sheet, he could not recall if he gave him the document.

He added that the date discrepancy must have been a typo when the charge sheet was prepared.

Mr Worrell suggested that there was no evidence that his strap had been cut, but Mr Smith said: "I can't speak to that."

Mr Smith later added during re-examination that police did not put together the summary of evidence that outlined the charge — this was instead the job of the Department of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Worrell also questioned Mr Smith on the motive for fitting him with an electronic tag.

When questioned, Mr Smith said that there were concerns over the safety of Mr Worrell and his child — but added that he did not organise a police presence to protect them.

Michael Charlton said that he was a police officer in 2019 and investigated a domestic incident between Mr Worrell and Ms Dillon-Burgess.

When asked by Mr Worrell, he said that he remembered leading him into his house while Mr Charlton’s partner spoke to Ms Dillon-Burgess outside.

He said that he did not see any aggression from Mr Worrell and that he had his infant son with him until Ms Dillon-Burgess left the house and took him with her.

Mr Charlton said he remembered seeing cuts on Mr Worrell’s arms and glass on the floor.

Mr Worrell suggested that these injuries came from Ms Dillon-Burgess shattering a window, but Mr Charlton said: “I remember that’s what you told me, but seeing as though I wasn’t there, I can’t say for sure.”

Mr Charlton added: “I could hear Chavelle telling my colleague that Mr Worrell was lying.”

Ryan Saraiva, another officer involved with an assault case regarding Ms Dillon-Burgess, told the court of a time in 2019 when Mr Worrell attended Hamilton Police Station.

He said that Mr Worrell showed him photographs of injuries he had sustained, allegedly from Ms Dillon-Burgess.

When questioned, he said he did not remember Mr Worrell showing him the voice recording, but added that this did not mean it did not happen.

He added that he did not remember Mr Worrell making a complaint against Ms Dillon-Burgess — one, Mr Worrell later suggested, was delayed because Mr Saraiva was on leave.

The trial continues.

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