A police officer, accused of murdering a man from Laventille, is expected to learn his fate today. 

High Court Judge Hayden St Clair-Douglas is expected to deliver his verdict in the judge-alone trial of PC Anthony Sylvester who has spent over a decade on remand.

PC Sylvester is accused of murdering Sheldon Des Vignes at his home at St Barb’s Road, Laventille, on November 9^th, 2007. 

During his trial, State prosecutors alleged that PC Sylvester and a colleague were chasing a suspect, who was wearing camouflage clothing, through an alley next to Des Vignes’ home when Sylvester discharged his firearm. 

Mr. Des Vignes, who was allegedly playing cards with relatives in a shed in his family’s property, was shot in his head. 

PC Sylvester is being prosecuted under the legal principle of transferred malice, whereby a person is held responsible when their intention to harm one person inadvertently causes a second person to be hurt instead.  

Officer Sylvester testified in his defense in the trial and claimed he was acting in self-defense.

The trial before St. Clair-Douglas is Sylvester’s second, as his first ended in a hung jury, with jurors failing to come to a unanimous verdict. 

Israel Khan, SC and Ulric Skerritt are representing PC Sylvester, while Ambay Ramkellawan is appearing alongside Chinebas for the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).