Jamaica Gleaner
Published: Tuesday | October 6, 2009
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Lyns' murder trial gets under way
The Crown is relying on circumstantial evidence to prove its case against the two men who went on trial yesterday in the Home Circuit Court for the murder of Manchester couple Richard and Julia Lyn.

Lennox Swaby and Calvin Powell, also called 'Kevin', are jointly charged with the murder of the elderly couple.

The couple, who operated the Bargain House Furniture Store in Mandeville, were robbed of appliances and furniture at their home in Mandeville, Manchester, and then murdered.

The Crown, represented by prosecutors Lisa Palmer Hamilton and Claudette Thompson, is alleging that the couple were murdered between the night of December 9 and the early morning of December 10, 2006.

No eyewitness

In outlining the Crown's case to the 12-member jury, the prosecutors said there was no eyewitness to the murder but the Crown was relying on circumstantial evidence to prove that the men murdered the couple.

The prosecutors said the Crown was going to prove that when the accused men killed the couple, it was a deliberate act and the men were not acting in self-defence.

When the couple were not seen on the morning of December 10, 2006, neighbours and friends became concerned and called the police. The police went to the house and found it ransacked. Furniture, appliances and the couple's two motor vehicles were missing.

Car, furniture found

It is further stated that about 3 a.m. on December 10, 2006, the accused men were seen in one of the Lyns' motor vehicles. Appliances which allegedly belonged to the Lyns were in the motor vehicle and they were unloaded and placed in the house of Petrina Lewis, who has a child for the accused Swaby. Items allegedly belonging to the couple were recovered from Powell's home as well.

Lewis began testifying yesterday and will continue when the trial resumes today before Senior Puisne Judge Marva McIntosh.

- Barbara Gayle

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