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School Teacher Nigel Abraham |
Jurors at the Number one Supreme Court say former Primary School teacher Nigel Abraham is guilty of murdering his wife Bernadette Abraham, a former teacher at the St. Paul’s Model School.
The team of Jurors, comprising ten women and two men, arrived at their decision after some two hours of deliberation in jury room midday last Thursday. Bernadette died between the 22 nd and the 23 rd June 2006 at her home in St. Pauls.
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Deceased Bernadette Abraham |
After two autopsies done on her body, doctors came to the conclusion that Bernadette’s deaths was not as a result of heart failure as earlier thought; instead it was as a result of manual strangulation.
Moments after releasing their findings, Bernadette’s husband, Nigel was arrested and subsequently charged in connection with his wife’s death.
During the High Court trial that lasted just over two weeks the Prosecution team, lead by Director of Public Prosecution Christopher Nelson, called several witnesses to prove his circumstantial case against Abraham. Among them were the daughters of Nigel and Bernadette Abraham.
Highly emotional during their stint on the witness stand, having lost their mom and having to speak on matters that could also put their father away for the rest of his life, the children spoke of that dreaded morning 23 rd June 2006.
The younger of the two daughters told the Court that having gotten ready for school she went into the room to bid her mom good bye but she did not respond and therefore she left for school. She was careful to note that there was some evidence of blood in front her mom’s mouth and on the sheet.
The elder of the two daughter said her dad told her that mom was not feeling well and therefore she did not entered the room, but stayed in the passage and saw her mom lying on the bed.
While in school the young lady said she got a call asking that she report to the office, and subsequently from her dad who told her that something had happened home but that she should remain in school until someone came to get her.
The young lady said she was later taken home by another teacher and on her arrival she met some neighbors at her home and her dad inside her room crying. Shortly after completing her stint on the witness stand the young lady had to be taken off the Court room as she burst into tears.
The first medical person who arrived on the scene was a nurse from the casualty division of the General Hospital who accompanied the ambulance to the Abraham’s home. She told the Court she got there after 9am as a result of a call received at the hospital.
The nurse said she called Bernadette and there was no response. She tested for pulse and the rise and fall of the chest and there was none. What was strange, the nurse said, was that she attempted to turn the body, but found the body unusually cold and that she was unable to stretch the hand. In fact she said, the body turned like a statue.
The nurse said that she informed Nigel what the situation was and advised him to call the district doctor. Bernadette was pronounced dead by the district doctor Tam Tam and like the nurse he found the body cold and joints unable to stretch.
Dr. Tam Tam concluded that Bernadette could have died some six to seven hours prior to his examination. In his defense, Nigel told the Court in an unsworn statement that he loved his wife and would do nothing to hurt her.
He went on to say that on the morning of June 23 rd he got up early after 3 a.m to prepare for school and while putting things together his wife got up and told him that she was not feeling well. He asked her if she wanted some hot tea. She said no, went to the bathroom and went back to bed.
Before leaving for school he said he prepared breakfast, went to tie his animal but before leaving the house for school he spoke to his wife and she responded. He then went to school and while at school he called a neighbour to have them check on his wife, knowing that she was not in the best of health.
Shortly after speaking to his neighbor, he said he got a second call suggesting that all was not well and that he should come home. Nigel told the Court that although they had their dark moments, he and his wife had a lovely relationship. They went to the beach together, took out mortgage together and things were looking up for them.
He went further to say that his wife, at times take care of all the bills in the home when it was time for him to pay for his exams. “It would have been stupid of me,” he told the Court, “to do anything that would have made me worst off”.
The former teacher and martial art black belt told the Court the two years he spent on remand were by far the most stressful time spent in his entire life, not having his wife and his children by his side. His final words to the Court were “I loved my wife, I love my wife, and I love my wife”.
Among the fourteen witnesses called by the Prosecution to prove the case against Nigel was Trinidadian Pathologist Dr. Daisley who did the final autopsy on the body and concluded that Bernadette died from manual strangulation. His conclusion was based on several observations including that of fingernail marking on Bernadette’s neck, darken fingers, and other signs that are consistent with that of manual strangulation.
The defense team, lead by Attorney at Law Derrick Sylvester, refuted that finding and through one Dr. Devigney, said that Bernadette’s death was natural.
At the end of the day however, the Jury went on the side of the Prosecution and found Nigel guilty as charged. Moments after that pronouncement was made DPP Christopher Nelson told the Court that he would not be seeking the death penalty. High Court Judge Claire Henry deferred Sentencing to March 18th at which time the Court requested a social services and a phosphoric report.
Defense Lawyer told members of the media that he would be calling character witnesses to speak on his client’s behalf with regards to his next move. He said there are several options open to him; however he would be awaiting the sentencing before making his next move.
Asked whether he was surprised with the ruling, Sylvester said in the practice of law nothing comes as a surprise. DPP Nelson, on the other hand, said he is not at all surprised with the decision. The Prosecution, he said, had a strong case despite the fact that it was based on circumstantial evidence.
Nelson said the evidence pointed in only one direction, that death was not natural and that it was only the husband that would have had access to her during that time and the Jury followed that and therefore this was no surprise.
Thursday’s ruling could put Nigel behind bars for the rest of his life.
