By Zaya Williams

Justice Tunde Bakre has ruled that murder accused Jeffrey Daniel does in fact have a case to answer in relation to the killing of David Roberts at his Newfield home on May 21, 2021.

His lawyers, Wendel Alexander and Wayne Marsh had tried to get the case dropped by arguing that the prosecution did not have enough evidence against their client.

This was after the prosecution called 13 witnesses to testify as to the events of May 21, 2021.

Jessica Roberts, the wife, presented her account of what transpired on the day. She testified that Daniel, her daughter’s ex-boyfriend, had been explicitly warned not to return to their Newfield residence following a trespassing incident on May 16, 2021. Despite the warning, Daniel reappeared a few days later, and David was alerted to his presence by his stepdaughter.

According to her testimony, David confronted Daniel outside, leading to a scuffle where she heard the sounds of a weapon striking.

Upon investigating, she witnessed Daniel holding a cutlass, which he subsequently dropped before proceeding to their water tank to clean blood from his head. Her husband was nowhere to be seen at that point, and she contacted the police, shared her account, and directed them to the weapon.

She returned to her bed to await her husband’s return, but when he failed to reappear, she embarked on a search the following morning. Tragically, she discovered David down the road, lifeless in his work garage.

The deceased’s stepdaughter, Jahmina Jackson, also testified, providing her recollection of the events.

On the day of her stepfather’s murder, she reported hearing the shattering of glass and the sound of David’s car alarm. She promptly relayed this information to David, who grabbed his cutlass and rushed outside.

A confrontation between him and Daniel ensued, with Jackson overhearing their exchange. She explained that she only heard commotion, and after the altercation, she observed Daniel washing his hands and face.

Following these critical testimonies, the court heard from several police witnesses, a medical doctor and a pathologist who concluded that Roberts died from massive blood loss due to a huge laceration to his chest.

The Judge decided that the testimonies he heard are enough to proceed with the trial.