The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN alleged to be the mastermind behind a plot to take gambling winnings from an immigration officer and his girlfriend told a Supreme Court jury that his initial release on bail concerning the double murder was indication of his innocence.

Zintworn Duncombe, 28, told Justice Indra Charles yesterday that he would give sworn testimony concerning allegations that he is partly responsible for the disappearance and murders of Shane Gardiner and Tishka Braynen, whose decomposed bodies were found in Andros 266 feet apart in December 2014.

His co-accused James Johnson, 22, Cordero Saunders, 26 and 28-year-old Daniel Coakley, indicated that they would remain silent as the burden to prove guilt lay with the prosecution.

Duncombe’s lawyer, Ian Cargill asked his client if he killed the victims, Duncombe said: “No sir.” He also said he was not present when they were killed.

He said he had been granted bail but was back in custody after drug possession allegations were made against him.

Duncombe was also asked if he knew Terrel Mackey. He said he did.

“Did you ask Mr Mackey to kidnap and rob anybody?” Mr Cargill asked. His client said no.

He was asked if he knew Gardiner, to which he answered that he didn’t know him personally. He did, however, know Braynen who he called a cousin.

“What can you say about what Mackey told this court?” Mr Cargill asked.

“I can’t really say nothing but I know what he said about me isn’t true,” Duncombe answered.

“Do you know why Terrel Mackey would have implicated you in this?” the lawyer further asked.

The accused alluded to the Crown’s witness having a criminal past and therefore, a better understanding of the judicial system that would allow him to minimise his involvement in a crime while he implicated a person with less experience or knowledge.

“But we’re not friends and there’s no personal vendetta ... nothing,” the accused added.

Of the Crown’s other key witness, a former girlfriend of Saunders, Duncombe said he and the woman had a conversation after finding out about what happened to Gardiner and Braynen in which they were both puzzled as to who could do such a thing. However, he denied conspiring with any of his alleged co-accused to a commit a felony.

When asked if there were any other persons charged in connection with the case not in court, Duncombe said Mr Mackey was charged as well “but he told me the prosecution (issued a) nolle (prosequi) against him”.

Duncombe, Johnson, Coakley and Saunders are on trial before Justice Charles facing two counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and attempted armed robbery.

The victims of the crimes, allegedly committed between November 24, 2013, and December 21, 2013, were Gardiner and Braynen, who were allegedly killed after a failed plot to take $8,000 in gambling winnings from Gardiner.

Braynen, of Cargill Creek, and Gardiner, who lived in Love Hill, both in Central Andros, were reported missing around 1.45pm on November 24, 2013. Gardiner had recently been assigned to the island.

On December 21, 2013, police in Andros discovered the remains of a man with “items related to a female”.

The jury heard earlier testimony from Mr Mackey, now a Crown witness, who said he witnessed his former co-accused Duncombe, otherwise known as “Scummy”, shoot both Gardiner and Braynen after the officer repeatedly denied that he had any money.

Mr Mackey alleged that Duncombe questioned Gardiner about money at Newbold Farm, Andros, on November 24, 2013 before executing him and his girlfriend. According to Mackey, Duncombe believed Gardiner had $8-9,000.

Duncombe’s lawyer questioned Mr Mackey about the circumstances of his release. But Mackey directed Mr Cargill to seek those answers from his former attorney, Raymond Rolle. Mr Cargill suggested to the witness that he was the culprit behind these crimes. Mr Mackey, however, denied that.

Duncombe was asked by prosecutor Darnell Dorsett if he stood by his earlier statement that he didn’t know Terrel Mackey and the other accused personally. Duncombe said he did.

Duncombe denied having received information that the pair had won between $8,000 and $9,000 from gambling.

She suggested that he approached Mr Mackey with a plan to rob the immigration officer. Duncombe denied this. He also denied breaking into Gardiner’s house.

Duncombe further denied forcing the couple into a vehicle, driving them to a farm, and shooting them.

The case resumes today.

Saunders, Johnson and Coakley are respectively represented by lawyers Moses Bain, Donna Major and Terrel Butler. Ms Dorsett and Patrick Sweeting are prosecuting the case.