Jury dismissed in cop trial
WESTERN BUREAU — High Court Judge, Kay Beckford, on Monday discharged the 12-member jury during the murder trial of special constable, Mark Williams, after the foreman was reportedly seen conversing with a lawyer who was watching proceedings on behalf of the deceased man.
The incident reportedly took place during the trial’s lunch break.
Williams, 41, was charged with the December 2001 shooting death of a Falmouth resident.
The trial began in the Trelawny Circuit Court on Monday, and after hearing evidence from one witness, the lunch break was taken.
During the break, the female foreman was reportedly seen walking down the road and exchanging words with the attorney-at-law.
On the resumption of the trial, the incident was reported to the presiding judge, who disqualified the jury.
The trial was then set for the next sitting of the Trelawny Circuit Court, which begins in October. The special constable’s $200,000 bail was subsequently extended.
Lawyers Winston Douglas and Trevor Ho-Lyn are representing him.
Eight witnesses are expected to testify on behalf of the Crown.
Last July, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ruled that Williams, who was assigned to the Trelawny police division, should be charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of 26 year-old Dave Steele.
Steele was shot dead at about 9:00 pm, along Falmouth Street on December 14, 2001.
His death triggered a protest in Falmouth, as residents blocked roads and demanded justice for the “innocent youth,” who they said was unjustly killed by the police.
After the DPP’s ruling, Williams was arrested and charged, and he later appeared in the Clark’s Town Resident Magistrate’s Court where he was granted bail.
His case was later transferred to the Trelawny Circuit Court for trial.