Subpoenas issued for witnesses in Reid's case - Councillor charged in connection with Tappa's son's death

WESTERN BUREAU:

The St James Circuit Court yesterday issued subpoenas for several witnesses to be summoned in the case against Councillor Sylvan Reid, who is charged with causing death by dangerous driving in the 2013 accident that claimed the life of Jevaughn Whitmore, the son of national football coach Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore.

Presiding High Court Justice Vivienne Harris made the order for the subpoenas to be issued after it was disclosed in court that three of the 11 prosecution witnesses had failed to appear at court, despite having previously been asked to attend.

"I am ordering that these witnesses be subpoenaed. I will set the case for next week to give the court time to issue the subpoenas on the witnesses," said Justice Harris, who subsequently deferred the case until Monday, March 27.

Reid, who is represented by attorneys K.D. Knight, Roy Fairclough and Tamika Spencer, had his bail extended to the next court date, at which time his trial is expected to begin.

The allegations are that, on November 9, 2013, Jevaughn Whitmore, who was a student at Cornwall College and a member of the Montego Bay United Football Club, was pushing his bicycle in the vicinity of the Retirement and Tucker intersection in St James, when he was hit by a Mitsubishi Pajero SUV (sport utility vehicle) that was subsequently identified as belonging to Reid.

.... Vehicle hitting Whitmore stolen?

Persons, who reportedly witnessed the incident in which Jevaughn Whitmore died, told police investigators that Sylvan Reid, who is councillor for the Salt Spring division in the St James Municipal Corporation, was one of two persons who alighted from the vehicle and left the scene after the accident.

Approximately two hours after the accident, Reid allegedly showed up at the Granville Police Station and reported that the vehicle, which he said he hadl eft at his farm, which is also located in Retirement (near Tucker), had been stolen.

Following a protracted period of investigations, a file on the case was submitted to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP ruled that Reid should be arrested and charged.

Reid, who has been re-elected to serve a second term as councillor for the Salt Spring division, has denied being present at the scene of the accident, which claimed the life of the talented 14-year-old footballer, who was also an above-average student at school.