Two admit to manslaughter

A HOMOSEXUAL TRYST that turned into robbery and ended in death went before the No. 2 Supreme Court yesterday.

Kevin Roland Codrington, 26, and Richard Leon Hurley, 32, both of Haynesville, St James, denied murdering former teacher Ezra DaCosta Rochester but admitted unlawfully killing him - manslaughter - sometime between February 9 and 15, 2006.

Codrington has convictions for cannabis and two for uttering forged cheques, while Hurley has convictions for unlawfully killing Ade Sobers, for which he received probation in 1995; two for having cannabis and one for loitering.

Attorneys Verla DePeiza, representing Codrington and Desmond Sands, who appeared for Hurley, requested pre-sentencing reports and their requests were granted by Justice Jacqueline Cornelius, who adjourned sentencing until December 15.

Crown Counsel Lancelot Applewhaite told the court that on February 10, 2006, Rochester's mother reported to Holetown Police Station that her son was missing since she had not seen him since February 7.

Police traced his last movements and found that he left home on February 9, dropped a friend to work in Gall Hill, and called his brother to make arrangements to collect a sister.

He never made it to his sister.

The last time someone saw Rochester was between 9:45 and 10 a.m. that day when he was driving along Oxnards, St James, and shouted out to a friend.

At that time, Codrington was in the front passenger seat.

The prosecutor continued that Hurley drove his car to a an area specified by Codrington, parked, and waited.

Rochester and Codrington arrived, and Codrington and Hurley set upon Rochester, attacking him with a knife, a piece of pipe and a rock. They hid the teacher's body in some bushes and covered it with a bag.

Hurley switched licence plates on Rochester's car and Codrington drove it away.

They drove to Bank Hall, St Michael, where someone swiped the keys to Rochester's car.

On February 15 police caught up with Codrington, who was wearing Rochester's belt.

It was Hurley who took police to where they had hidden Rochester's body.

A pathologist determined that the teacher died from stab wounds to the chest and head, along with severe traumatic pressure to the head.

Both men elected to write their own statements.

Codrington wrote that he made arrangements with Rochester who collected him and took him to a cart road in St Thomas.

Rochester took off his clothes and said he wanted to have sex with him.

"He asked me if I wanted money and I said yes," the prosecutor read. "He was touching me. He put on a condom and while we were in the car Richard appeared at the driver's side with a knife," the prosecutor continued.

Codrington's statement said Hurley stabbed Rochester, dragged him out of the car, and started beating him.

Hurley's statement said he was parked and waiting in the spot outlined by Codrington.

He saw Codrington and Rochester in the front seats.

"Quickly after that I saw his friend on top of him. Quickly after I saw his friend get out naked and bleeding," Hurley wrote, adding Codrington got out with a knife and a rock.

Hurley's statement continued that he saw a piece of pipe, which he took up and hit Rochester on the hand. He took up a knife off the ground and slashed twice at Rochester.