A man on trial for the murder of a 76-year-old woman allegedly apologized for his actions during an interview with police, a Supreme Court jury heard yesterday.

Omar Miller Jr. is on trial for the October 26, 2012 murder of Viola Sands. He has denied the charge at his trial before Justice Bernard Turner. Sands was in her bed when an assailant fired through her bedroom window during the passage of Hurricane Sandy.

Investigator Sergeant Sonny Miller said he interviewed the suspect in relation to the matter around 1 p.m. on November 13, 2012. Officer Miller said that Miller waived his right to a lawyer during the interview, which was videotaped. According to the suspect, he had intended to shoot a relative of Sands whom he had been told had a hit on him.

Based on this information, Miller told the officer that he and his friend Zoe went to the home on Eneas Street. Miller said they saw a figure in bed and assumed it was their target as a shooting film was on TV. Miller said both he and Zoe fired through the window. The following day, Miller said, he learned that an old woman had died. He allegedly told Officer Miller, "I am very sorry and I didn't mean to do it."

In response to questions from prosecutor Linda Evans, officer Muller said that the defendant was not beaten, threatened or offered any inducements to make the statement. However, defense lawyer Calvin Seymour suggested that police arrested Miller's parents to "apply pressure" to the defendant. The officer denied the suggestion.

Seymour also asked officer Miller to give an account of how the suspect's shoulder was dislocated while in custody. The officer was unable to but emphasized that Miller was fine before, during and after the interview. The case continues today.

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