All evidence has concluded in the murder trial of three men accused in the stabbing death of Randy Robinson, and now the jury is days away from commencing their deliberations.
The case against the three defendants – Shaun Jackson, Matthew Glasgow and Jonathan Woodhouse – alleges that each man played a role in the death of Robinson and violent assault of another man in the early morning hours of 5 May 2023 outside the Caribe Café, off Shedden Road in George Town.
All the men were charged with murder, manslaughter, and a lesser charge of wounding with intent and simple wounding.
They have all denied the charges of murder, while some entered mixed pleas to the remaining charges.
The prosecution’s star witness, who is the second victim in the matter, told the jury that he remembers throwing the first punch and fighting for his life, after he was threatened by a man carrying a 12-inch knife that was used to chop him multiple times.
Jackson is said to have been the person armed with the large knife that was used to stab Robinson five times and chop the prosecution’s witness at least twice. Though the incidents leading up to the fatal stabbing were captured on CCTV, the moment the final blows were landed were out of the camera’s line of sight.
Jackson, 22, did not give evidence during the trial. His attorney, Ben Tonner, KC, instead called on the jury to accept the fact that there was no motive established for the murder, and that the circumstances around the altercation were such that the prosecution could not prove Jackson intended to kill Robinson.
The attorney for Glasgow told the jury his client was also a victim who got caught up in a quickly escalating matter that ended in tragedy.
Reflecting on his client’s evidence, Stan Reiz, KC, walked the jury through the moment his client was pushed towards the prosecution’s witness who started to throw punches.
“Mr. Glasgow told you, and you can be confident that he was telling the truth when he said he was punched first, and so he started to fight back while trying to defend himself,” said Reiz. “His evidence was clear and concise. He didn’t injure Mr. Robinson nor did he ask anyone to do so.”
Philip Rule, KC, the attorney for the final defendant, Woodhouse, made similar admissions to the jury.
“Mr. Woodhouse accepts that he was involved in the unlawful assault of [the prosecution’s witness] but that is the extent to which he is culpable,” said Rule. “He did not intend for Mr. Robinson to be injured or killed, nor did he ask anyone to do so, and in any event he did not consent to the 12-inch knife being used.”
Now that the trial has ended, Justice Marlene Carter is expected to begin summing up the near two-week-long proceedings. Following that, the jury of seven men and five women will begin their deliberations.
All three defendants will remain in custody until then.
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