WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — It appears the decision to move the Mario Deane murder trial outside St James has yielded results. When the case was called up for the first time in Westmoreland Circuit Court on Monday, the court was informed that 60 people had been summoned for jury duty.

News

Foreman came to Jamaica the underdog, but left as heavyweight champion

BY HOWARD CAMPBELL Observer senior writer 

March 23, 2025

THE death of George Foreman at age 76 on March 21 in his native Texas revived memories of the Sunshine Showdown, the heavyweight boxing match in which...

{"xml":"xml"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}

While the total number of people who actually showed up is unclear, defence attorney Dalton Reid said the number was more than those seen in St James.

Latest News, News

Over $1.5b disbursed to families affected by Hurricane Beryl

March 22, 2025

MONTEGO BAY, St James -  Over $1.5 billion in direct assistance has been disbursed to families across the island who were affected by Hurricane Beryl ...

{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}

The matter is to be called up on Friday for a case management hearing ahead of the March 3 date set for trial. A lack of jurors has been one of the factors that have led to the case’s slow progress through the court system.  Three cops were slapped with charges in connection with the 2014 beating death of then 31-year-old Deane. Corporal Elaine Stewart, constables Juliana Clevon and Marlon Grant are all charged with manslaughter, perverting the course of justice, and misconduct in public office.

News

Breaking boundaries in hot pepper production

Why quality seeds matter

March 23, 2025

ALEX Sybron’s career has taken him from playing one of Jamaica’s most popular sports to working on improving the quality and sustainability of one of ...

{"xml":"xml"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}

Allegations are that Deane was arrested for possession of a ganja spliff and placed in custody where he was brutally beaten on August 3, 2014. Deane received severe injuries to his brain, which left him in a coma. He died three days later in Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James.

It is alleged that the three cops were on duty at the police station at the time Deane was beaten. It is further alleged that Corporal Stewart instructed that the cell in which the attack took place be cleaned before the arrival of investigators from the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom).

In May 2014, St James Parish Judge Sandria Wong Small ruled that the three cops should stand trial. However, the case was delayed for almost a decade.

It is now one of the cases that will be heard in the Hilary session of Westmoreland Circuit Court which is expected to run from February 17 to March 14.

– Anthony Lewis