Prosecution rests in six-cop murder trial at Home Circuit Court, Kingston
The prosecution closed its case Wednesday in the murder trial of six police officers linked to three 2013 shooting deaths in Barbican, St Andrew. The defence is expected to file a no-case submission.
Prosecution rests after 11 months in officers' murder trial
After nearly 11 months of proceedings, the prosecution in the murder trial of six police officers closed its case on Wednesday at the Home Circuit Court in Kingston, jamaicaobserver.com reports. The defence team — comprising attorneys Hugh Wildman, Althea Grant-Coppin, and John Jacobs — was expected to launch a no-case submission the following day.
The six officers stand trial in connection with the January 12, 2013 shooting deaths of Matthew Lee, Ucliffe Dyer, and Mark Allen on Acadia Drive in Barbican, St Andrew. Sergeant Simroy Mott, Corporal Donovan Fullerton, and constables Andrew Smith, Sheldon Richards, Orandy Rose, and Richard Lynch are the accused. Fullerton faces an additional charge of making a false statement to the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom).
According to the prosecution, the three men were travelling in a blue Mitsubishi Outlander when police signalled the driver to stop. The driver initially hesitated, but upon stopping, occupants exited the vehicle and opened fire on the officers. The police returned fire, killing the three men. A fourth occupant allegedly fled through a gully at the intersection of Evans Avenue and Acadia Drive.
Final witness blocked from introducing crime scene photographs
The sole witness called Wednesday was a police officer attached to the technical services division. Lead prosecutor Kathy Ann Pyke sought to admit printed photographs of the crime scene into evidence through the officer, and also called on him to identify a fellow officer's signature — a task he had been summoned for previously.
Trial judge Sonia Bertram-Linton refused to allow the photographs into evidence, ruling that the manner in which Pyke attempted to introduce them was improper. The witness had not taken the photographs and had played no substantive role in the investigation. Pyke subsequently informed the court she was closing the prosecution's case.
Witness denies coordinating testimony with prosecutors
During cross-examination by Wildman, the technical services officer maintained that he had not discussed his evidence with the prosecutor ahead of his appearance. "I came here at the request of the Crown," he told the court, adding: "I came here because of an order of the court."
He also denied consulting his superior at the scenes of crime unit before testifying. "I did not need permission to come here to give evidence," he said. "I am the sub-officer in charge of the section that I work in at scenes of crime. My superior has nothing to do with me coming to court."
On whether Indecom had requested him to review crime scene images, the witness said he could not speak to that matter. "I had no discussions with Indecom," he stated, noting he had received a phone call from a woman informing him he was needed in court. He said he could not recall whether she specified what the court required of him.
Following Wildman's cross-examination, Grant-Coppin and Jacobs indicated they had no questions for the witness.
Source: Google News JM — Crime