Henry admits rape

(CNS): Update 2:30pm – As the trial of Kirkland Henry and Larry Ricketts opened this  morning Henry pleaded guilty to raping, abducting and robbing Estella Scott-Roberts (left). When the two accused men were arraigned on the outstanding charges against them, Henry admitted his guilt, while Ricketts pleaded not guilty to any of the remaining charges. Before opening her murder case against the two defendants, Solicitor General, Cheryll Richards QC asked the judge to postpone the sentencing until after the murder trial.

The two men who are both charged jointly with murdering the 34 year old Cable & Wireless executive in October 2008, have also been charged with robbery and abduction. Kirkland Henry was also charged with rape. As the defendants must be tried separately for the crime of murder, to which they have both pleaded not guilty, on Monday 1 Feb they were arraigned for the outstanding charges. Henry said he was guilty of the three charges against him but he will only be sentenced after the outcome of the murder trial should he be found not guilty.

Ricketts, who has denied the robbery and abduction charges as well as the murder, could now face a separate trial for these two crimes if he is not convicted of the murder.

Following the arraignment, Richards finally opened the case for the crown against the two defendants, laying out the case against the men. Some fifteen months after the body of Estella Scott-Roberts was found in her burnt out car in the Barkers area of West Bay, Richards told the court that the prosecution would prove that the two men in the dock were engaged in a common enterprise to abduct, rob and ultimately cause the death of the deceased.

See full report of the crown’s case this evening.