By Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Reporter
#TurksandCaicos, July 27, 2023 – Magnetic Media has confirmed that the seven-week-long murder trial against NAJAH KARIOKA an alleged killer mom ended on Friday 14th July, 2023.
The presiding judge his lordship the Hon. Mr. Davidson Kelvin Baptiste, when he raised on Friday to begin his deliberations as to guilt or innocence or otherwise of the accused, did not say when he will return with his verdict.
This was a judge alone trial, that is a trial without jury, so Justice Baptiste has the prerogative to take whatever time he deems necessary to consider the evidence and convey a verdict and sentencing in the shocking matter.
At the time of the homicide, Police reported that on Wednesday, August 5th, 2020, Najah Karioka, then aged 42, was formally charged with the Offence of Murder in connection to the shooting death of a 9-year-old child.
“The facts are that on May 20th, 2020 at 10:07 p.m., the Police Control Room received a report that Emergency Medical Personnel were needed to a home in the North Creek area of Grand Turk. First responders found the child unresponsive with head injuries.”
That child was later revealed to be Karioka’s daughter.
Oliver Smith KC represented the female defendant and for the DPP’S office was Ms. Mickia Mills and Ms. Tamika Grant.
