Jamaica Gleaner
Published: Wednesday | April 22, 2009
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Shortage of jurors delays murder trial
KINGSTON:

A shortage of jurors at the Home Circuit Court has resulted in the trial of the three men charged with the murder of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Gilbert Kameka being put off from Monday to April 27.

They are 26-year-old Massinissa Adams, of Industry Village, 18-year-old Kemar Dawson, of Standpipe, and 21-year-old Rohan Townsend, of Irish Town, all in St Andrew.

Supreme Court Judge Donald McIntosh said with the number of jurors present, a case with even one person charged with murder could not proceed. The court was assured that steps were being taken to serve additional jurors to attend court next week.

54 jurors required

Court officials disclosed that 914 summonses were sent to the police in February for them to serve jurors in the Corporate Area to attend court this month. The police served 197 jurors but only 42 turned up on Monday. The trial of the three could not proceed because a minimum of 54 jurors were required for jury selection.

Kameka, 48, was shot dead in Irish Town on November 29 last year in an alleged robbery at a house. Tina Gaye McGowan, 18, of Mount Industry, St. Andrew, who was charged jointly with them pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to rob Kameka. She has been given a three-year suspended sentence. The murder charge against her was later withdrawn.

- Barbara Gayle

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