WESTERN BUREAU – An inquest is scheduled to get under way on April 23 in the Falmouth Coroner’s Court into a motor vehicle accident last year January which killed national footballer, Steven “Shorty” Malcolm.

Malcolm was killed in the accident along the Spring Hill main road in Trelawny, while he and team mate Theodore Whitmore and friend Charles Hewan, were on their way from a football match at the National Stadium in Kingston.

Whitmore and Hewan escaped with minor injuries, while Malcolm died as a result of head injuries.

Acting deputy clerk of courts at the Trelawny Resident Magistrate’s Court, Tyrone Hilton, told the Observer yesterday that the inquest will be held to determine if anyone was criminally responsible for Malcolm’s death.

“If they (the jurors) say nobody is criminally responsible for Malcolm’s death, then that is the end of the matter. But if they say someone is responsible then they will have to say who is responsible and the case will then go on to be tried in the Circuit Court,” Hilton explained.

He said the matter has been mentioned in the courts on a number of occasions but the lack of witnesses had prevented the inquest from proceeding.

“The case has been on the list for a long time and whenever it is called up, nobody turns up so we are now calling on the witnesses to come forward so we can dispose of the matter. We have to get the matter off the books,” the clerk added.

Hilton said the inquest is not expected to last for more than a day, adding that he is expecting at least six witnesses to testify.

“We expect a representative from the law firm Chancellor and Co to be present. She will listen on behalf of Theodore Whitmore, who is not expected to attend,” Hilton said

The list of persons expected to testify also includes Hewan, who was a passenger in the ill-fated vehicle, at least two police officers, a photographer, a man who said he saw the car immediately before the accident and a representative from Madden’s funeral home.