‘Not spending Christmas in here’, judge tells jurors in cops’ murder trial, tell me about this news in (https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2026/09/17/not-spending-christmas-judge-tells-jurors-cops-murder-trial/)
17-09-2026
Here is a summary of the news report from the Jamaica Observer:
Trial Overview and Judge’s Comments In the Home Circuit Court, presiding Judge Sonia Bertram-Linton expressed frustration over the length of the murder trial involving six police officers. Having begun in January and dragged on for nine months without a clear end date, the judge informed the seven jurors that she does not want the proceedings extending into December, stating: “We don’t want to see Christmas here.”
Upcoming Schedule and Delays Despite the push to conclude, the trial faces further interruptions. Proceedings were scheduled to run through the end of the week before taking a one-week break for juror commitments. Another break is scheduled during the week of October 12 to accommodate the defense.
The Case and Accused Officers The officers on trial are:
Sergeant Simroy Mott
Corporal Donovan Fullerton (also charged with making a false statement to INDECOM)
Constable Andrew Smith
Constable Sheldon Richards
Constable Orandy Rose
Constable Richard Lynch
They are charged in connection with the January 12, 2013 fatal shootings of Matthew Lee, Ucliffe Dyer, and Mark Allen on Acadia Drive in Barbican, St. Andrew, which occurred during an alleged shootout with the police.
Recent Courtroom Developments Following a recent recess, a former assistant investigator from the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) took the stand. He detailed his role in gathering evidence in 2014, including photographing and extracting station diary entries at the Constant Spring Police Station and recording witness statements.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Hugh Wildman questioned why certain witness statementsincluding one collected from Agriculture Minister Floyd Greenwere not signed in the presence of a Justice of the Peace (JP). The former investigator defended the process, testifying that under Section 21 of the INDECOM Act, the presence of a JP was not legally required.