A man on trial in the Supreme Court for murder will decide today whether he will take the witness stand or remain silent as his defence attorney opens his case. Hlifrant Joseph, 38, of Millers Heights, under the newly amended law, has the right to choose whether he will testify under oath about the stabbing death of Christopher Butler on December 6, 2002.

His alternative option would be to remain silent and rely on the evidence presented by the prosecution as, unlike the prosecution, he has nothing to prove. Joseph faces a charge of murder, which he denies. It is claimed that he, on December 6, 2002, stabbed Butler in the back. The incident happened around 7pm as Butler made his way to the laundromat on Eighth Terrace. The prosecution closed its case in the trial on Monday after calling its last witness.

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