By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A POLICE officer testified that the body of American Janice Kessinger was found nude on a beach in Cat Island in 2017 with gold jewellery on a cord around her neck.
As Rodrigo Rolle’s murder trial continued yesterday, the defence questioned whether robbery was the motive of the crime as the victim was found with jewellery.
Rolle, 33, is accused of killing Kessinger, 74, during a home invasion in Orange Creek, Cat Island, on September 29, 2017. Rolle is also accused of stealing a 2006 Ford Explorer and a $500 safe containing a $5,000 Rolex.
Sergeant Austin Bowles said yesterday that he went to a beach in the Bain Town area of Cat Island and saw the deceased’s nude body wrapped in a sheet under a bush on October 2, 2017.
SGT Bowles observed that the deceased had a wound to her neck and a white cord tied around it. He also saw that she had on a gold watch, bangles and necklace.
Before the body was taken away, the sergeant placed a bag around her hands to preserve forensic evidence.
As part of his crime scene investigation, he photographed and collected the evidence found near the body, including a panty.
Geoffrey Farquharson, the defendant’s attorney, suggested to the officer that the panties could not fit the victim. Sgt Bowles responded that he would not know as he sent it away for analysis to see if it were connected to the crime. He also said that he would not be in a position to tell if the panties were there before the body was dumped.
When it was suggested that the crabs could have inflicted wounds on the victim after she died, the officer said he could not say how Kessinger got the injuries.
Mr Farquharson questioned why the victim had her jewellery on if robbery led to her death. Sgt Bowles said he would not speculate on the motive.
The officer said that, to his knowledge, no photographs were taken of a struggle.
Devonte Jamal King, the defendant’s uncle, testified that on September 30, 2017, he met with his nephew to discuss cleaning his grandfather’s car.
Mr King told the court that the defendant asked him if he had gone partying the day before, to which he responded no. He then recalled how Rolle told him if anyone asked if they were together to say they were out from 9pm to 5am on September 29.
Mr King also said his nephew told him about a safe he needed to open.
After hearing of Ms Kessinger's disappearance later that day, he said he called Rolle asking if he knew about it, to which Rolle said no. He said Rolle asked him to bring him a cigarette after work, which he did.
When asked by Mr Farquharson if he told police that he saw his nephew at 9.30pm the Friday of the murder, Mr King said he gave police the same report he gave the court.
Mr King also said he told police he didn’t go out that Friday to keep a “low profile” and stay out of trouble. He admitted he smokes marijuana.
Eucal Bonamy and Janet Munnings are the prosecutors in the case. Justice Gregory Hilton is the presiding judge.
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