As 25-year-old Clint Nigel Alexis of Breadfruit Alley, Argyle, appeared in court yesterday morning facing two charges of the attempted murder of British couple Peter and Murium Greene, villagers in Argyle were protesting and calling for him to be freed because he was innocent.

Protestors came out shortly before 7 a.m, preventing the smooth flow of vehicular traffic.

The six-foot Alexis appeared before a Scarborough Magistrates’ Court magistrate dressed in a cream suit. His lawyer Larry Williams said his client was in urgent need of medical attention, and since being in custody from Monday he was hit about the head with a gun butt and his ribs with a baton.

Williams continued: ’My client has old injuries to his foot and police officials mashed his foot several times causing swelling and pain. His medication for his foot injury was taken away from him.

’While in custody from Monday to Wednesday of last week my client received no food until Thursday when officer Denoon also known as Simple C gave him some Royal Castle. On Friday the same officer brought bread for him.

’The Trinidad police and them told my client to sign a document which was never read to him. His signature was affixed, however my client cannot read.’

Williams said his client was in custody since Monday, August 3, and last Friday when he was charged with attempted murder, his client was told the statement he signed was a confession to chopping the Greenes on August 1. In addition it was told to the court that Alexis started vomiting on Saturday when he was given food by the authorities.

State Prosecutor William Davis denied that Alexis was beaten by police with a gun butt or baton, and everyday he was fed.

’No officer aggravated any injury to the accused foot, and no officer took any medication away from Mr Alexis. Alexis never complained of feeling nauseous,’ Davis said.

Senior Magistrate Annette McKenzie was told by the prosecution that there were no notes to present to the court, only one statement. A copy of the statement was made available to Alexis attorney Larry Williams.

The police were told to take Alexis to hospital to be medically examined and to present the medical certificate at the next court hearing of August 20. Bail was denied until the victims in the matter are out of danger.

Family members who gathered outside the court and included Christopher Alexis, the father of the accused, said they were leaving the matter in the hands of God for justice to be served. Aunt of the accused ,Jenny Henry, said her nephew would be freed.

’I have faith that the criminal justice system would be solved. I have faith that my nephew would be released from this distress, because I know he is innocent,’ Jenny Henry said.

Family spokesman Busby Trotman said outside the Scarborough court yesterday that the wrong man was brought before the courts. He offered a speedy recovery to the Greene family, and stressed that the brutal attack should not be condoned.

’The real perpetrator of this crime is out there somewhere. What we can say is in an effort to appease the international media and some local entities, a scapegoat was necessary. The true criminal is not Mr Alexis but the criminal justice system,’ he said.

Meanwhile scores of villagers in Argyle came out to protest for the release of their fellow villager, whom they described as cool. The area turned into a carnival-like atmosphere, with food being cooked and music echoing through the streets.

Close friend Akino Bascombe said he was with Alexis during the time the Greenes were chopped.

’Well me an he was together right through, whole day around 2 p.m. we were in Roxborough, we went and buy food,’ he said.

Alexis is a labourer with the Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities.