Constable sentencing put off

THE SENTENCING of former police constable Rushawn Hamilton has been again been put off.

Justice Lloyd Hibbert should have sentenced Hamilton in the Home Circuit Court last Friday but the court was informed that the prosecutors in the case were not available.

Hamilton's lawyer Valerie Neita Robertson told the court that she needs time to have an independent clinical psychologist evaluate the former policeman.

Sentencing was then rescheduled for February 22.

Change of venue application turned down

SUPREME COURT judge Frank Williams last Friday turned down an application in chambers for a change of venue for the trial of the three soldiers implicated in the murder of businessman Keith Clarke who was shot at his home during a search for former Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

Howard Hamilton, QC, one of the lawyers representing the soldiers told The Gleaner that they were contemplating taking the issue to the Constitutional Court.

The soldiers were seeking to have the case tried in the Manchester Circuit Court instead of the Home Circuit Court.

The application was made on the basis that they would not get a fair and objective jury in the parish of Kingston. They also referred to adverse comments being made about the case.

Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn had opposed the application for the change of venue.

Justice Williams, in dismissing the application, said the accused did not show sufficient and good cause for a change of venue.

The accused men are Greg Tingling, Odel Buckley and Arnold Henry.

They are also being represented by attorneys-at-law Linton Gordon, Barrington Frankson and Tameka Smith.

Representation for accused murderers

Legal representation has finally been settled for the three men charged with the murder of prominent attorney-at-law Clover Graham.

The court assigned lawyers to represent the men when the case was mentioned in the Home Circuit Court last Friday.

They are being represented by Peter Champagnie, Christopher Townsend, Kaysia Kennedy and Zara Lewis.

The accused, 22-year-old Quron Patterson, 25-year-old Simeon Lewis and 18-year-old Shannon Campbell, were further remanded until February 22 when the case will again be mentioned.