Murder trial defence blocked from cross-examining Floyd Green as prosecutor extends testimony

On Monday, defence lawyers in the murder trial of six police officers were set to cross-examine Agriculture Minister Floyd Green, only to find the session stalled because prosecutor Kathy-Ann Pyke had not concluded the examination-in-chief she opened on Friday.

Shortly before the lunch adjournment, trial judge Sonia Bertram-Linton asked defence counsel whether they would be prepared to cross-examine Green when court resumed. They confirmed they would. Pyke did not speak up then to say her questioning was still ongoing.

After lunch, defence attorney Hugh Wildman was in position to begin cross-examination. The hearing took an unexpected turn when Pyke told the court she was not done. She told the bench, “I never said I was finished. I never said that.”

Justice Bertram-Linton appeared as startled as the defence. “This one is surprising. We must have shifted universes or something,” she remarked.

Wildman rose and addressed the court. “For the record, Milady, it is my time to cross-examine, having regard to what transpired before lunch. Miss Pyke never raised any objection that she was not finished with her examination-in-chief. It is surprising now she has come to say she is not finished.”

Following the exchange, Pyke was allowed to continue her examination-in-chief. She directed Green to mark printed copies of photographs from the January 12, 2013 crime scene. On Friday she had begun showing the minister images for identification.

John Jacobs and Althea Grant-Coppin work on the defence team alongside Wildman. Green is due back in the witness box today, when Pyke is expected to finish her examination-in-chief. Wildman, Jacobs and Grant-Coppin are then expected to cross-examine him.

The minister is one of two eyewitnesses in the matter. He was recalled last Friday to identify photographs linked to the scene.

On trial for murder are Sergeant Simroy Mott, Corporal Donovan Fullerton, and constables Andrew Smith, Sheldon Richards, Orandy Rose, and Richard Lynch. Corporal Fullerton also faces a charge of making a false statement to the Independent Commission of Investigations.

The officers are accused of murder over the shooting deaths of Matthew Lee, Mark Allen, and Ucliffe Dyer in an alleged shootout with police on Acadia Drive in Barbican, St Andrew.