June 13 date to determine witness availability for Shrewsbury murder case

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Trelawny Circuit Court has put off the case against two policemen who are charged with murder in relation to the 2013 shooting deaths of three family members in Shrewsbury, Westmoreland.

The matter will return to court on June 13, at which time a determination will be made on the availability of the prosecution witnesses.

Constables Kenroy Hines and Damane Campbell, who are charged in connection with the deaths of brothers Andrew and Triston Brydson and their cousin Kingsley Green, had their bails extended by presiding High Court Justice Cresencia Brown-Beckford on Friday.

When the case was mentioned, lead prosecutor Patricia Hickson told Brown-Beckford that subpoenas would be needed to bring some witnesses to court.

"Based on what the investigating officer has told me, the witnesses are available, but they are expressing some level of frustration. The length of time of the matter is one issue for them," said Hickson.

"There are witnesses that are willing [to appear in court], but I would prefer that the investigating officer be armed with subpoenas, both for the witnesses that are willing and those that are frustrated," Hickson added.

Brown-Beckford subsequently set the matter for mention on June 13 to determine the availability of the witnesses before the case's scheduled trial date of November 7.

The Brydson brothers and Green were killed on March 15, 2013, in Shrewsbury, Westmoreland, by a police team which claimed the men had engaged them in a shoot-out. However, the police's account of the incident was strong disputed by residents and relatives of the men, who staged several days of protest, demanding justice.

The case's progression to trial has been hit with a number of setbacks dating as far back as March 7, 2014, including the frequent absence of the defendants' lawyers despite the readiness of the prosecution to proceed with the case.