JAMAICA - Two policemen were ordered to return to court on charges of corruptly soliciting and accepting money despite attempts from their attorneys to get their case dismissed.
Attorneys for lawmen Graham and Morales were upset when the men appeared in court before Senior Parish Judge Paula Blake Powell, only to be told that the crown was not ready to proceed to trial in the case which had already been thrown out once.
Attorney Vincent Wellesley, who represents Graham, told Observer Online the matter was dismissed on March 10 after two previous trial dates because the complainant did not turn up to court. He indicated that the matter was reopened in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court in April.
Wellesley said the crown had then indicated they were seeking a special measures application which allows an individual to testify by a video link. However, prosecutors failed to get a statement to ground the application at that time. Last Tuesday, the crown prosecutor indicated that a statement from the complainant had been improperly signed, and thus, the crown was still not ready to proceed with its application.
Upon hearing this, Wellesley heavily protested in the courtroom. “I don’t believe a word about this statement being signed in the wrong place!” he said. Wellesley indicated that the charges against his client and the co-accused stem from an October 2020 incident where the complainant woke to find her vehicle missing.
The woman reported the matter to the Stony Hill Police Station. After this, acting on a tip, she went to a particular garage and saw her car being scrapped. She reportedly sought the services of a wrecking company and moved the vehicle to Studio One Boulevard. The complainant encountered both officers, who allegedly told her she would have to pay $30,000 for the return of the vehicle. It is alleged that she paid the money and reported them to the police. Both Wellesley and a fellow attorney entreated the judge to throw out the case, citing the non-appearance of the complainant.
However, Judge Blake Powell refused to do so on the basis that another judge had been hearing the case initially. The attorneys sought leave to speak to that judge. The resulting decision was that the case should return on June 20, with the prosecution warned to come fully prepared. (Jamaica Observer)
