Post-mortem report still outstanding in case of baby thrown from rooftop
Published:Thursday | July 18, 2024 | 12:09 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The court is allowing more time for completion of the post-mortem report in the case of Shamoya Green, who is accused of throwing her five-month-old daughter off a three-storey roof to her death in December 2023.
Green, who is charged with the murder of Destiny Brown, was not at the St James Parish Court on Wednesday when judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton set the new September 4 court date. The accused woman is currently in custody at South Camp Adult Correctional Centre in Kingston.
During Wednesday’s brief case mention, the court was told that when previous inquiries were made concerning the status of the post-mortem report, no definite date was provided for its completion.
It was also disclosed that a corroborating officer’s statement was in the possession of the investigating officer to be added to the prosecution’s case file.
“Ms Green is absent today (Wednesday), and she is currently at South Camp, and she cannot be transported because of her medical condition. The information we have is that she is in such a state where transportation is going to be difficult because of her seizures, and the doctors have provided a report which indicates that Shamoya Green is unfit to plead,” Fairclough-Hylton said, expressing concern.
“It is difficult for the police officers to transport her from Kingston. That’s what the doctors are saying. We will set the matter for mention on September 4, and out of an abundance of caution, I will put a writ of issue just in case her condition improves that she can be transported,” Fairclough-Hylton continued, referring to a document similar to a warrant for the accused woman to be brought to court.
Mental health concerns
The concern about Green’s medical state stems from concern about her mental state on previous court appearances as well as her having suffered a seizure in the prisoner’s dock during her first court appearance. On that occasion, police officers and other observers in the courtroom had to physically intervene and tend to Green when she collapsed in the dock.
Allegations in the case are that about 5:35 p.m. on December 6, 2023, Green was at home with her common-law husband and other relatives when she tried to have a conversation with the man about their relationship. However, he reportedly put off the talk to later that evening.
Green allegedly became enraged and left the room, taking Destiny with her. She then reportedly took the child to the roof of the third floor of the family’s house and threw her on to the concrete pit in the yard.
The police were alerted, and Destiny was taken to the hospital, where she died while being treated.