Questions about overseas witness in ‘Shab Don’ murder case to be addressed
Published:Monday | February 24, 2025 | 12:11 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The St James Circuit Court is expected to hear today whether a prosecution witness in the case of popular music producer Linval ‘Shab Don’ Thompson and his co-accused, Tajay Clarke, who are charged with three counts of murder, will appear via video-link.
The prosecution made the application in relation to its witness during the case’s last mention on February 19 when Thompson and Clarke were scheduled to start their trial.
On January 8, the case was put off for similar reasons after a revelation on that day that the prosecution was slated to make arrangements to secure their witness’ testimony. The witness is said to be overseas, serving a prison term in Florida on a murder charge.
Thompson is represented by King’s Counsel Tom Tavares-Finson and fellow attorney Donahue Martin, while Clarke’s lawyer is Khadine Colman. Both defendants were remanded until Monday morning following the prosecution’s most recent application regarding its witness last Wednesday.
Thompson and Clarke are charged in relation to the May 25, 2022, deaths of 24-year-old Chamario ‘Chippy’ Calvin, 27-year-old Chadwell ‘Bomb Brain’ Frazer, and 26-year-old Toniann ‘Too Fly’ Reid. They are also charged with wounding with intent and shooting with intent in relation to that incident.
According to reports, Calvin, Frazer, and Reid were among patrons at a birthday party being held along Marl Road in Rose Heights, St James, on May 25, 2022, when a motor vehicle pulled up.
Men alighted from the vehicle and fired on the patrons before making their escape. Calvin, Frazer, and Reid were subsequently pronounced dead, and two other persons were wounded in the incident.
Thompson and Clarke have been in custody despite past efforts by their lawyers to secure bail for them, including a bail application on April 5, 2024. On that occasion, Tavares-Finson said Thompson was not in the area at the time of the incident and pointed to reports that the perpetrators were wearing masks, calling the issue of identification into question, while attorney Colman cited Clarke’s need to do a medical procedure, which he could not do while in custody.
However, High Court Justice Bertram Morrison, the presiding judge at that time, rejected the bail application after the prosecution argued that Thompson was pointed out in an identification parade and that one of the witnesses and some police personnel had received threats.
In light of the prosecution’s issues regarding the overseas witness, questions remain unanswered regarding how the matter against Thompson and Clarke will proceed once the case is mentioned today.