Shineka Gray murder accused to stand trial

WESTERN BUREAU:

Gregory Roberts and Mario Morrison, the two men charged with murder in relation to last year's killing of Green Pond High School student Shineka Gray, were ordered to stand trial in the St James Circuit Court on November 19 when they appeared in court last Friday.

The two defendants appeared before presiding High Court Justice Evan Brown following a case-management hearing with their attorneys and the prosecution. Both men were also remanded. Roberts is being represented by attorneys-at-law Chumu Parris and Shelly-Ann Hyman, while Morrison's lawyer is Martyn Thomas.

21 witnesses

The case-management hearing of the matter, which had begun earlier in the week, was designed to give the prosecution and the defence an opportunity to agree on what portions of evidence will be deliberated when the case goes to trial. The prosecution is set to call 21 witnesses in its case against the men.

Shineka Gray, who was 15 years old at the time of her death, was found dead in bushes in the Irwin community on February 1, 2017, three days after she was reported missing. Her body had multiple stab wounds.

Gray, who was a grade 10 student at Green Pond High School, was last seen alive in Montego Bay, on her way home from the funeral of a schoolmate.

Following police investigations, Roberts and Morrison were taken into custody and subsequently charged with the schoolgirl's murder. The case against Roberts and Morrison was transferred to the Circuit Court last October after having been heard previously in the St James Parish Court following the men's arrest.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com