The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE seventh day of the Marco Archer murder trial ended early after Kofhe Goodman’s attorney alleged that the case’s lead prosecutor made “facial gestures” to the crown witness while she was answering his questions during cross-examination.

The allegation arose when Geoffrey Farquharson, who claimed the gestures were done on three occasions, was questioning Constable Denrea Johnson about her training in crime scene investigation.

Garvin Gaskin, deputy director of public prosecutions, denied the allegation and suggested to presiding judge Justice Bernard Turner that they were serious allegations against his character.

“Keep my name out your mouth please,” the deputy DPP said, turning to Mr Farquharson who stood behind him.

“I beg your pardon, counsel?” the defending attorney asked the prosecutor.

Justice Turner, who attempted to restore order, asked Mr Farquharson for a basis to support his claim, agreeing with the prosecutor that the allegation was a serious one to make and bearing in mind that the attorney could only see the back of the prosecutor.

A subsequent exchange of words led Justice Turner to excuse the jury for a private discussion with counsel. The discussion lasted nearly ten minutes before the jury was called back and told that the matter would be adjourned to today.

Goodman, 37, of Yorkshire Drive, faces a murder charge, which he denies. It is claimed that between September 23 and 28 of 2011, he intentionally and unlawfully caused the death of Marco Archer who disappeared from Brougham Street and was found dead days later.

Yesterday, Mr Farquharson continued his cross-examination of Constable Johnson from the previous day.

He asked her how long she had been employed with the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the length of time she was stationed at the Central Detective Unit.

Johnson said she has been employed as a policewoman for eight years and stationed at CDU for half of that.

When asked about her training during that time concerning crime scenes, she said she did initial and intermediate level training along with FBI training with reference to bombs, and other training in firearms reconstruction.

“You recall being taught in these courses that the crime scene can sometimes give you clues about the identity of the perpetrator?” the attorney asked.

Constable Johnson turned to the judge and said she could not speak to something a crime scene analyst or the case’s investigator would do.

Justice Turner told her she had to answer the question as it was in reference to her training prior to becoming a crime scene investigator.

Constable Johnson then said: “They taught me to keep an open mind on the scene.”

Mr Farquharson suggested to her that she was taught a crime scene can sometimes give clues about the identity of the perpetrator.

“Yes, sir. A crime scene can hold clues to many things, including that,” Constable Johnson said.

The attorney suggested that her training allowed her to identify clues about crimes that are familiar to police.

“Your honour,” Johnson said turning to Justice Turner, “I am not a crime scene analyst.”

“It is basic training,” Mr Farquharson suggested.

Mr Farquharson was in the stages of asking the witness another question when he suddenly exclaimed an allegation to Justice Turner that the lead prosecutor “is making gestures to the witness in the witness box”, claiming that he ignored the first two but could not at the last one that reportedly just occurred during his questioning.

Mr Gaskin immediately rose to his feet and refuted the allegation he deemed serious, saying it was not only false but misconceived on the basis that his back was facing the attorney.