Handwriting expert called in as murder trial stalls

Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

In keeping with a new policy implemented last week by the director of public prosecutions (DPP) to prevent fabrication of evidence, a murder case was yesterday adjourned until February 15 for the handwriting expert to examine a witness statement.

The witness was shot and killed shortly after he allegedly gave a statement to the police in 2004.

When Peter Campbell and Kemar Haughton, labourers of Kingston addresses, appeared in the Home Circuit Court on Monday for their trial, defence lawyers Delano Harrison, Vincent Wellesley and Latoya Errar referred to the DPP's new policy.

The lawyers pointed out that based on the policy, the handwriting of the deceased witness must be examined by an expert.

The new policy stemmed from the disclosure last week that Detective Sergeant Michael Sirjue had fabricated evidence in the murder case of alleged leader of the Stone Crusher Gang Eldon Calvert.

Sirjue wrote the statement and signed it, purporting that an eyewitness had written it before he was fatally shot.

Eldon Calvert, his brother Gleason Calvert and Michael Heron were freed.

DPP Paula Llewellyn, who was prosecuting in the case, also had the statement examined by the Government's handwriting expert.

Llewellyn threw out the case and assured the court that she was going to put in place a new policy to have all statements made by witnesses who have died or cannot be found examined by the handwriting expert.

Adjournment granted

Senior Puisne Judge Gloria Smith granted an adjournment on Monday and ordered Campbell and Haughton to return to court yesterday.

When the case was mentioned, the court was informed that more time was needed to get the handwriting expert to examine the statement.

Campbell and Haughton have been in custody since 2008 when they were arrested and charged with the murder of Rohan Morrison and Nyron Edwards.

The court was told on Monday that the eyewitness Richard Edwards was shot and killed in 2004 and the Crown was relying on the statement to prove its case.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com