WESTERN BUREAU:
THE TRIAL of businessman Francis 'Deon' Young, who is facing double murder charges arising from last year's party boat shooting in Montego Bay, failed to start at the St. James Circuit Court yesterday as scheduled.
Crown Counsel Janet Scotland told the court that the prosecution was not ready and requested another trial date.
Justice Norma MacIntosh accepted her request and set April 24 as the new trial date.
Young, a 27-year-old father of six, has been implicated in the death of Paul Haynes and David Ellis, who both lost their lives in the aftermath of a fracas and shooting incident aboard the boat Sharky's off the coast of Montego Bay in the early hours of August 19, 2002.
It is alleged that Young brandished his licensed firearm and fired several shots in the direction of Ellis, who had reportedly hit him in the face with a bottle. The two had been involved in a long-standing dispute.
Two other persons were shot in the incident. Haynes reportedly died on the spot after being struck in the neck by a bullet, while Ellis, who eyewitnesses claimed was also shot, fell overboard and is presumed dead. His body was never recovered.
Young was originally charged only for the death of Haynes, but following a ruling from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, which was read to the court on October 28, he was also charged for the death of Ellis.
On the day he was charged with Ellis' death, Linda Wright, one of Young's attorneys, argued that the evidence the Crown was offering, especially in terms of Ellis' death, was circumstantial. She said that Ellis' body has not been produced to substantiate the Crown's claim of murder.
On previous court appearances, Young's former attorney, Ernie Smith, had also argued that ballistics results had shown that the bullet that killed Haynes was not fired from Young's gun.
Young's $2 million bail was extended until April 24.
