November 18 trial for six charged in Flankers protest
WESTERN BUREAU — The trial of the six men charged in connection with last month’s demonstrations at Flankers in St James is scheduled to begin next Tuesday, following a delay in the proceedings this past week.
The six, all residents of Flankers, are charged with breaches of the Anti-litter Act, stone throwing, and assault at common law. They are:
* Hughroy Gooden;
* Marsha Hamilton;
* Keisha Hamilton;
* Marvin Johnson;
* Kerwin Whittington; and
* Desmond Cameron.
The case could not proceed when it was brought before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday because statements were outstanding from the case file. As such, the new trial date was set and the men’s $50,000 bails were extended until the new date.
The six were arrested and charged on October 27, during the second day of demonstrations, by Flankers residents, against the shooting death of two elderly community members.
The men- David Bacchus, a 63 year-old cab driver, and Cecil Brown, 66- were allegedly killed by the police on the morning of October 25. A third person, 65 year-old Audrey Stephens, was shot and injured in the same incident.
According to the police, the men were killed in a crossfire between them and gunmen. But residents insist the police’s story was untrue, and have said that the two elderly men were killed in cold blood.
