Cops freed of murder charge

[Mosiah]

Cops freed of murder charge
published: Saturday | February 3, 2007 <DIV class=KonaBody L13eH="true">

Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

The two policewomen and two policemen, who were charged jointly with the murder of 17-year-old Christopher McKenzie arising from an incident at the Crofts Hill Police Station in Clarendon, were freed yesterday.

They were freed when Justice Lloyd Hibbert upheld a no-case submission made by defence lawyers Ernest Smith and Altheus A. Hines. The judge directed the 12-member jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

Freed were Constable Ceceil Wright-Anderson, District Constable Sherril McKay and constables Howard Tavares and Easton McGregor.

The defence lawyers submitted that self-defence arose on the Crown's case based on statements given by the police and the Crown was not able to prove otherwise.

The judge, in upholding the submissions, said the case was a nightmare for the Crown which was not able to prove that the accused were not acting in self-defence.

The mother of the deceased wept uncontrollably outside the courthouse when she heard the outcome of the case.

The Crown, represented by attorneys-at-law Hugh Thompson, Shawn Steadman and Crown Counsel Stephanie Jackson-Haisley, led evidence in the Clarendon Circuit Court that McKenzie, who was visiting from the United States, was severely beaten and shot at the police station on March 2, 2005.

Following the incident, statements were submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions who ruled that the four should be charged with murder.

Two gunshot wounds

It is being alleged that, on the night of the incident, McKenzie was seen leaning on the verandah of the police station and, at the time, he had two gunshot wounds. One was to the back of his head and the other to the lower section of his back. He was severely beaten at the time.

The police reported at the time that the Mr. McKenzie was attacking Constable Wright-Anderson inside the police station when her colleagues went to her assistance.

Forensic reports indicated that the gunshot wounds to the body were allegedly linked to a firearm which was assigned to one of the four accused.

- barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com </DIV>

[Sickko]

RE: Cops freed of murder charge

Aaaah, the jury system- tried and proven according to the judges.

I was summoned to be part of a jury pool recently and was excited, as I wanted to see how the system worked at that level from a first hand view point.

Now contrary to some views held here, while I am facinated by the legal system, at some level it sickens me when I see learned attorneys confused and belittle ignorant witnesses and victims, some times thethe judges will step in but there are times when they dont.

In the Bob Marley trial that I covered for six months in new York in 1992, Rita Marley had the bets lawyer out of about 20 who were involved in the case and that is why she is not in paupers prison now, after admitting to forging Bob's signature on dozens of cheques and documents.

back to our jury system here...while I was on the jury duty my name was called on four occasions and on all occasions, the defence lawyers rejected me, even one of my class mates- Dalton Reid.

Before the start of Circuit they told me point blank they dont want me on the panel as my knowledge of the laws etc is far superior to that of the 'normal' citizen and they cant take any chances with me.

On the other hand, none of the defence lawyers never turn down any illiterate person who goes on the stand. Surprised? I am not.

Recently I was talking to a juror who had returned a guilty verdict for one accused man but they were undecided on the other accused man and I was surprised at the reasons they could not come to a decision on the second man.

But lawyers will tell you it is better to have 10000000 guilty persons walking the streets than one innocent person in prison....