KINGSTON, Jamaica — Four detectives, who investigated the murder of one of their colleagues a few years ago, are facing disciplinary action for failing to appear in the Home Circuit Court on Monday.

The four were to appear when the case against Troy Burke and Everton Williams was called up.

Their absence, with no prior notice, drew the ire of Justice Lloyd Hibbert, who summoned the men’s superior, Senior Superintendent Terrence Bent, head of the Kingston West Police Division.

Hibbert expressed his displeasure to the senior cop and said that this type of tardiness added to the slow pace of the justice system.

Bent apologised for the men's absence and told Hibbert that he would be referring the four to Commissioner Owen Ellington, with a recommendation that they be disciplined.

Ellington had in the past used the Police's weekly Force Orders to warn against cops not turning up for court and said that sanctions would apply for this tardiness.

Burke and Williams are facing a charge of murder for the killing of Constable Richard King in the Corporate Area.