Two Barbados murder trials set to continue at High Court Thursday

Joel Maynard and Jason Layne face separate murder charges in Barbados's High Court. Both trials resume Thursday before different justices and juries.

Maynard and Layne murder cases back before High Court

Proceedings in two unrelated murder trials will resume at the Barbados High Court on Thursday, Barbados Today reports. The accused — Joel Philemon Maynard and Jason Ricardo Layne — are being tried separately before different justices and juries.

Maynard, of Padmore Village, St Philip, is charged with the murder of Kevin Atherley, who died on September 26, 2019. His case is before Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell in the No. 4 Supreme Court, where a jury of seven women and five men is hearing the evidence.

The prosecution is led by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC, assisted by Acting Senior State Counsel Paul Prescod and State Counsel Tomeisha Sobers. Attorney Sian Lange appears for the defence.

In the No. 3 Supreme Court, a jury of ten women and two men is hearing the case against Layne before Justice Carlisle Greaves. Layne has pleaded not guilty to murdering his brother, Anthony Layne, on June 4, 2020, in their Leadvale, Christ Church neighbourhood.

Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Krystal Delaney is prosecuting that matter, alongside Acting Senior State Counsel Anastacia McMeo-Boyce and State Counsel Kwame Ramsay. Defence attorneys Lesley Cargill-Straker and Kristin Vanderpool represent Layne.

Source: Barbados Today