Court blocks senior cops as witnesses in Patrick Powell trial
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The prosecution in the trial of businessman Patrick Powell this morning denied the request of the defence to call Assistant Commissioner of Police Ealan Powell and investigating officer Superintendent Frank Buchanan as witnesses.
Powell’s attorney Deborah Martin had made the request against the background that she needed to cross-examine both individuals.However, lead prosecutor Assistant Director of Public Prosecution, Yanique Gardner Brown, told the court this morning at the start of the trial that the prosecution could not comply with the request as calling both witnesses would not advance the crown’s case.She also indicated that ACP Powell did not submit a statement and there was nothing in a press release that he had sent out that would assist the prosecution’s case.Powell is being tried for allegedly failing to hand over his licensed firearm to the police following the shooting death of Kingston College student Khajeel Mais in July 2011.The businessman was acquitted of murder last October, after the sole witness in the so-called ‘X-6 Trial’ became uncooperative.No further evidence was subsequently offered against him.Tanesha Mundle