AN APPLICATION for a change of venue in the case of the six policemen charged in connection with the murder of seven young men in a house in Braeton, St. Catherine in March 2001, has been set for a hearing on Wednesday before Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe.The policemen appeared in the Home Circuit Court yesterday and had their bail extended to return to court on May 28.
Defence lawyers are seeking the venue change on the grounds that there is no way the men can get a fair trial anywhere in St. Catherine and the Corporate Area. The attorneys noted that comments made by talk show hosts, human rights groups and numerous articles published on the case could have a prejudicial effect on potential jurors.
CROWN AGAINST APPLICATION
Paula Llewellyn, senior deputy director of public prosecutions, told Justice Mahadev Dukharan that the Crown would be opposing the application for a change of venue. She said given the nature of the matter, the application should be fully ventilated in open court for transparency, the public interest and in the interest of justice.
K. Churchill Neita, Q.C., who is leading the defence team, objected to the application being made in open court and accused Ms. Llewellyn of 'grandstanding'.
He said Ms Llewellyn must realise that the six policemen had served their country and were entitled to a fair and impartial trial.
The policemen charged are Sergeant Raymond Miller, constables Leighton Bucknor, Miguel Ebanks, Devon Bernard and corporals Wayne Constantine and Linroy Edwards.
