Kingston judge to rule on defence lawyer's courtroom outburst in six-officer murder trial

Judge Sonia Bertram Linton is expected to rule on Friday on what steps, if any, she will take against defence attorney Hugh Wildman, who told prosecutor Kathy Peek to shut up during the murder trial of six police officers in the Home Circuit Court in Kingston.

The judge spent roughly two hours in chambers with defence counsel on Thursday after the exchange, which played out before a seven-member jury. Wildman had stood to object to questions Peek put to an Independent Commission of Investigations officer about what could be seen from a apartment complex on Acadia Drive in Barbican, St. Andrew. He argued the witness could not give that testimony because it would amount to hearsay, among other issues. As he addressed the bench, loud remarks from Peek, seated behind him, led Wildman to tell her to be quiet in terms the judge found offensive. Bertram Linton adjourned the case and later instructed jurors to return Friday for her next directions.

On trial are Sergeant Simroy Mud, Corporal Donovan Fullerton, and Constables Andrew Smith, Sheldon Richards, Randy Rose, and Richard Lynch. Fullerton also faces a charge of making a false statement to INDECOM. The case concerns the shooting deaths on January 12, 2013 of Matthew Lee, Ucliffe Dyer, and Mark Allen. It is alleged they were killed during a shootout in which police seized two firearms, while a fourth man escaped along Evans Avenue near its junction with Acadia Drive. Minister of Agriculture Floyd Green, who lived on the top floor of the three-storey complex at the time, is among two alleged eyewitnesses, though he did not see the exact moment any of the men were shot. Wildman's co-counsel are Althia Grant Copin and John Jacobs.

In St. Catherine, a teenage boy and 35-year-old Sherman Wright, both of Quarry Hill, have been charged with murder, shooting with intent, malicious destruction of property, unauthorised possession of a prohibited weapon and ammunition, and using a firearm to commit a felony. The charges relate to the fatal shooting of 18-year-old construction worker Miguel Anderson, also known as Bingi, at a shop in Quarry Hill, Spanish Town, on Saturday, June 13. Police say Anderson was at the shop around 8:00 p.m. when he was set upon by a gunman who opened fire before fleeing. He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead. The accused later turned themselves in and were formally charged; court dates are being finalised.

A Kingston man accused of raping his 16-year-old cousin when he was 17 was freed on Thursday after the High Court dismissed the matter for lack of prosecution. Defence attorney DeAndre Buchanan opposed the Crown's request for a further adjournment to locate the complainant, who had repeatedly failed to attend court. Citing earlier comments by Justice Leighton Cusy that justice must move with purposeful urgency, Buchanan argued that prolonged delay was unfair to his client, who had attended court consistently. After reviewing the history and hearing from the investigating officer, Justice Ann Marie Lawrence Granger agreed and entered a formal verdict of not guilty. The allegation arose in April 2019 after the girl's mother took her for a medical examination and, on confrontation, she accused the defendant, who has maintained his innocence.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Western Westmoreland Ian Hayles told the House of Representatives on June 23 that more than 230 days after Hurricane Melissa, residents in hard-hit parishes still lack adequate shelter, employment, electricity, and water. The opposition spokesman on water urged lawmakers to work across party lines so recovery needs in areas such as western Westmoreland are not left unattended.