A police constable who appeared in the Home Circuit Court on Tuesday to stand trial for the 2003 shooting death of his colleague got an unpleasant surprise when the manslaughter charge against him was dropped and replaced by a charge of murder.

It was not said in open court why Deon Carr, who is attached to the Hannah Town police post in West Kingston, had his charges altered, but his attorney, Valerie Neita Robertson, told the Observer that though surprised, she was however prepared.

Jurors were on Monday selected for the manslaughter trial to proceed on Tuesday, but that plan was aborted following an in-chambers meeting Tuesday morning with Justice Kay Beckford, Carr's attorney and the prosecution.

The court was then informed of the decision and a February 18 trial date agreed.

The prosecution is alleging that Carr shot and killed his colleague, Constable Halkeith Ergas, on the afternoon of May 23, 2003, after discharging his M16 rifle at a civilian whom the cops had stopped minutes earlier.

Carr, according to the prosecution, had been poking the civilian in the chest with his rifle when the civilian commented, "Mine you shoot mi", and turned to the side. An explosion was immediately heard and Ergas, who was standing behind the civilian, was hit in the chest.

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