A van from Madden's Funeral Home transports the body of prominent lawyer Berriston 'Berry' Bryan from his Stony Hill home (in picture) yesterday after he was found murdered there. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

Gloom engulfed the local legal fraternity yesterday as news spread that one of its members had been murdered.

Seventy-two-year-old attorney, Berriston 'Berry' Bryan, was found dead by one of his employees at his home in Stony Hill, St Andrew, early yesterday morning.

Police on the scene told The Gleaner that Bryan's body had multiple stab wounds and appeared to have been battered with a blunt instrument.

The partially decomposed body also had what appeared to be defensive wounds on the hands.

It is not clear when Bryan was killed, but neighbours reported hearing screams coming from his house Friday night.

No motive determined

Up to late yesterday, investigators had not determined a motive for the killing, as they struggled to put the pieces together.

The mystery also stumped his colleagues, including Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewelyn, who had faced Bryan several times in court.

"He was a very colourful character who had a particular way of articulating that on occasions, would bring a smile to your face," Llewelyn said.

"He was a very hard campaigner, a tough campaigner. In terms of representing his clients, and may I say on occasions where the situation was appropriate, he did not hesitate, if his instructions allowed him, to assist the Crown and the administration of justice by not wasting the court's time," Llewelyn added.

It was a similar story from defence attorney K. Churchill Neita who remembered Bryan as a committed and passionate lawyer who was prepared to fight for his clients.

"He was generally a person who was liked by every member of the Bar," Neita said

"This underscores the need for all Jamaicans to join the fight against the monster of crime which is destroying a lot of our productive citizens," Neita added.

Represented pusey

Bryan was last in the news in March when he represented Sheldon Pusey, who was charged with the 2006 murder of former trade ambassador, Peter King.

Pusey was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

But Bryan challenged the conviction, arguing that evidence had been suppressed. He was representing Pusey before the Court of Appeal.

Bryan had spent more than 30 years in England, where he appeared in several cases, before returning to Jamaica just over 10 years ago.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com