SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine - St Catherine resident magistrate Lorna Errar-Gayle scolded those she said were hobbling justice, by failing to send local police investigators to the United States to interview potential witnesses in a case of kidnapping, rape and extortion committed in Linstead, St Catherine eight months ago.

Gayle who spoke sharply to the investigating officer - a detective inspector from the Organised Crime Investigation Division - in the Spanish Town criminal court last week, argued that the police was wasting the court's time if they were unable to secure the necessary funds to travel to the US to interview witnesses and complete the case file.

"You people found the necessary funds to pay for two (policemen) to send all the way to South Africa the other day ... so do the same thing in this case! Pick up a low cost ticket from Air Jamaica and go to America, find the witnesses, talk to them and close the case," an angry Errar-Gayle told the investigating cop.

Her outburst was sparked by a comment from the inspector of a delay in completing travel arrangements to interview witnesses in the case.

"Your honour, I am still awaiting funds to secure the ticket." the inspector told the court. But the enraged judge was having no excuses.

"Tell them seh me seh fe send you go investigate it!" she insisted.

Before the court were Shane Rich, Wayne Pryce and Clifford Pryce, all of Linstead; and Aston Pinnock of Old Harbour, St Catherine. They are facing joint charges of kidnapping, extortion, conspiracy, illegal possession of firearm, shooting with intent and robbery They pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded in custody to appear in the Gun Court on June 15.

Allegations are that in September 2006, a woman was walking along Trafalgar Street, Linstead, when three men forced her in a white car, called her boyfriend and demanded $200,000 for her release. Hours later they also kidnapped the boyfriend, blindfolded them both and drove them around Linstead for over an hour.

The police said the kidnappers forced their victims to call persons in the US for money. The girl managed to free herself and escaped. Her boyfriend was held for three days before he escaped.

The four were held in December 2006 and after a series of identification parades they were pointed out and arrested and charged.

The case is now at a standstill as the police are unable to complete the US leg of their investigations.
However, the OCID officer said that requests have been made to the Mutual Legal Assistance Process for US police to assist in the investigations.

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