Tesha Miller’s fate to be decided today
Published:Tuesday | December 3, 2019 | 12:26 AMNickoy Wilson/Gleaner Writer
A seven-member jury is today expected to deliberate on the fate of Tesha Miller, who is accused of ordering the killing of then chairman of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), Douglas Chambers.
Before adjourning court yesterday afternoon, trial judge, Justice Georgiana Fraser, told the court that she would complete her summation of the evidence this morning.
She urged the jury to only have regard for evidence presented during the trial, which began on November 13.
The judge told the jurors that they would have to determine for themselves whether the testimony of the star witness was true and make conclusions on the validity of his explanations for omissions.
In the trial, the Crown’s witness, a self-proclaimed former member of the Spanish Town-based Clansman Gang, said Miller told him that Chamber’s murder was a contract killing.
He also identified Miller as the leader of the gang and outlined the hierarchy of the criminal organisation in which he said he was an area leader.
The witness, who cannot be named because of a court order, also disclosed that he decided to testify to put an end to the gang violence and extortion taking place in Spanish Town.
Miller, however, told the court that he did not know the witness.
He also said that he was innocent of the charges against him, saying that he did not give any order for Chambers’ killing.
Bert Samuels, the attorney representing Miller, also questioned the witness’ reasons for giving evidence against his client.
He told the court that the witness could not be trusted because of inconsistencies in his testimony compared to statements he had given to the police.
Miller is on trial at the Home Circuit Court answering to charges of accessory before and after the fact to Chambers’ murder.
The JUTC chairman was gunned down outside the company’s depot in Spanish Town on June 27, 2008.