THE MOTHER of one of the two men on trial for the murder of Manchester couple Richard and Julia Lyn had expressed concerns about items co-accused Lennox Swaby had taken to her home.

Accused Calvin Powell told the police about the concerns raised by Swaby's mother during a question-and-answer exercise on December 27, 2006, at the conference room at the Mandeville Police Station.

Powell, 26, garbage truck driver of New Green, Manchester, and Lennox Swaby, 28, farmer and taxi driver of Hopeton district, Manchester, are charged with the murder of the elderly couple. They were strangled during a robbery at their home between December 9 and 10, 2006.

Detective Sergeant Colin McKenzie, who recorded the questions and answers, read them to the jury yesterday after the prosecution tendered them in evidence at the trial in the Home Circuit Court.

Powell said, in response to questions from the police, Swaby's mother had asked him to pick up a settee from Ward Avenue, in Mandeville, Manchester, and take it to her home at Hopeton district, Manchester.

Transfer to girlfriend's home

Powell, who is also called Kevin, said when he went to Ward Avenue to transport the settee in the garbage truck he was driving, he saw Swaby there. He said he dropped off the settee and went home.

Questioned further by the police, Powell said when he reached home, Swaby's mother called him and asked him if he knew where Swaby got the items. He said he told her that Swaby got them from a lady. Powell said Swaby's mother told him that when she asked Swaby where he got the stuff, he was not answering her and was only giving her "bare back answer" like he does not want to answer.

Powell said that about 4 a.m. on December 10, 2006, Swaby came to his home. He said he accompanied Swaby to his girlfriend's house. There, Powell said Swaby gave appliances to the girlfriend.

Powell said on December 16, 2006, the police searched his home and took a refrigerator, two stoves, a washing machine, three suitcases and other items. Powell told the police he bought them from a lady who Swaby had introduced him to and had made a down payment of $40,000.

Powell said he knew the Lyns but did not know anything about their disappearance. He said in early 2006, he was a mason and he was working at a house that was being built beside the Lyns' house.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com