State seeks Death penalty in Gayle killing
Published:Saturday | January 11, 2025 | 12:10 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
The prosecution has given notice that it will be seeking the death penalty for the man accused of murdering journalist Barbara Gayle.
Justice Lorna Shelly Williams was informed yesterday in the Home Circuit Court that the death penalty is being sought as the murder was committed during a robbery.
Twenty-four-year-old Travis Ellis has been accused of the murder, and is facing murder and robbery with aggravation charges.
He made his first appearance in court yesterday, after his case was transferred from the St Catherine Parish Court via a voluntary bill of indictment, which allows for a matter to bypass proceedings in the lower court.
He was remanded until his next court appearance on May 26.
In the meantime, the judge has ordered that he undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
During yesterday’s proceeding the court was also informed that the case file was incomplete and that material such as the arresting officer’s statement, video footage from Gayle’s house, forensic biology report, Communication Forensics and Cybercrime Division report, and the buccal swab report from the defendant are outstanding.
The police, when asked how long they would need to complete the file, indicated six weeks and a March date was proposed by the prosecutor, but the judge said a further date was better, consequently, the matter was scheduled for May.
‘BARBARA WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD’
Meanwhile, King’s Counsel Tom Tavares-Finson told the judge that although he was retained along with Donahue Martin by Ellis’ family, they would not be able to meet the financial obligation and as a result requested that a legal aid assignment be made.
In response, the judge assigned both lawyers to the case.
While noting that he will not be paying attention to any criticism about his representation, Tavares-Finson told The Gleaner that it is important that people recognise the constitutional right of every citizen to legal representation when they are charged.
“I just wish to highlight that any citizen of this country who is charged for a criminal offence is entitled to be represented by counsel. It is a constitutional right that no doubt Ms Barbara Gayle would have appreciated and understood,” he said.
Ellis was arrested and charged last December after Gayle was found dead at her home on December 17. She was found with multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma to her head.
Ellis was last seen with her on Monday, December 16. Investigators alleged that the defendant had broken into another person’s house on the day Gayle was last seen alive.
It is alleged that after breaking into that house, the suspect, in a bid to elude security personnel, ran to Phase One where he went to Gayle’s home.
He allegedly later attacked Gayle inside her house after engaging her in a conversation.
Her GLA 180 Mercedes-Benz was found along the Dyke Road in Portmore, St Catherine, a day after she was found dead. It is believed that Ellis drove the vehicle to the location after Gayle’s murder.