St James attorney Lavern Walters dies following illness

The legal fraternity in western Jamaica is in mourning following the death of one of its members, attorney Lavern Walters, on Sunday morning.

Walters, who served as a member of the Cornwall Bar Association (CBA) and was active in Montego Bay, St James, died following a period of illness.

In a brief tribute, CBA president and fellow attorney Michael Hemmings praised Walters as a respected lawyer and friend.

“What I can say is that she was loved and respected by all, a great advocate and friend. She will be truly missed by us all. May her soul rest in eternal peace,” said Hemmings.

A past student of Mt Alvernia High School in Montego Bay, Walters graduated from the Norman Manley Law School at the University of the West Indies in 2006, and was admitted to practise law shortly afterward. She also served as Crown counsel and worked at the Administrator General's office.

Her most notable cases as an attorney included serving as a defence lawyer for Ivan Taylor, the taxi operator who was convicted on May 22, 2014 of the June 2012 murder of Trinidadian schoolteacher Michelle Coudray-Greaves, following his trial in the St James Circuit Court.

She also served as the attorney for Constable Alicia Hutchinson-Brooks, who was tried along with other cops on corruption charges for alleged involvement in the January 30, 2013 release of prisoner Greg Taylor from the Montego Bay police lock-up under questionable circumstances.

Additionally, Walters represented inmate Fahdean Ferguson, the man who escaped from police custody on September 13, 2014 while participating in a video identification parade in the Mario Deane murder case, following Deane's death one month earlier.

- Christopher Thomas

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