Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The much-anticipated trial of the four persons charged in connection with the May 2011 kidnapping of a Mount Alvernia Preparatory School student has been postponed until September 24 to allow the defence lawyers time to confer with their clients.

The four accused - 23-year-old cabinetmaker Jonathan 'Clevaugn' Mitchell of Spaldings, Clarendon; 22-year-old barber Trevon Tomlinson of Cornwall Courts, Montego Bay; 26-year-old counsellor Jenise Regisford of Bloomfield, Connecticut, United States and Cornwall Courts, Montego Bay; and a 17-year-old minor of Paradise, Montego Bay - had their bails extended.

The quartet has been charged with kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to extort arising from the much-publicised incident.

LAWYERS AWAITING INSTRUCTIONS

Attorney-at-law Martyn Thomas, who is representing Regisford, explained to presiding High Court judge Martin Gayle that the defence lawyers needed to take further instructions from their clients.

"We have been having some discussions, and we would need some time to take further instructions from our clients and to advise them further," said Thomas. "We just want to have the opportunity to have those discussions."

After consulting with lead prosecutor Jeremy Taylor, Gayle set the matter to start on September 24.

The charges stem from the kidnapping of a three-year-old child on the afternoon of May 3, 2011. The child was reportedly taken from the school while waiting to be picked up by his parents and taken away in a waiting motor car.

With the assistance of persons who had seen the alleged kidnappers speeding away with the child, the police were able to track them down. The child was found unharmed several hours later in Manchester. The four accused were subsequently arrested and charged.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com