'Chucky' Brown trial begins tomorrow - Judge rejects application for separation of charges
Published:Tuesday | September 25, 2018 | 12:00 AM
The trial for Collis 'Chucky' Brown, a constable who is said to have been a part of a syndicate of police officers who allegedly carried out extrajudicial killings, is scheduled to begin tomorrow.
The ruling was handed down at the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston yesterday by presiding judge, Justice Vivienne Harris, who also rejected an application by attorney Norman Godfrey for the separation of certain charges in the five-count indictment levelled against Brown.
Brown is charged with three counts of murder, one count of wounding with intent, and one count of conspiracy to murder.
Godfrey argued that trying all these charges together would prejudice his client. However, Justice Harris held that the offences have similar features and sufficient nexus for them to be tried together. She also rejected the defence's request to quash the conspiracy charge.
It was also determined that given the substantial public interest, the media and members of the public would not be excluded from the trial, which is expected to last at least four weeks.
Brown, who has been in custody since 2014, is indicted on charges stemming from separate incidents in 2009 and 2012 in which Damoy Dawkins, Dwayne Douglas and Andrew Fearon were shot and killed.