The three police officers who were hailed by Bull Bay, St Andrew, residents as heroes after fatally shooting wanted man, Noel Barnes in an alleged shoot-out in 1999, are to stand trial in the Home Circuit Court on March 19.

Expected before the court are constables Kirk Nunez and Lerone Witter, both of the Elletson Road Police Station and district constable Ukent Edward of the Bull Bay Police Station.

On August 27, 1999, Barnes allegedly went to hold up the Gypsum Quarry in St Thomas around 6:15 pm, when he was spotted by a security guard on the compound, who shot him during a gun battle. Barnes ran to the nearby Bito District in Bull Bay, St Andrew.

When the officers who were on special assignment in the area arrived at Bito, they were allegedly greeted with gunfire from Barnes, who was hiding in bushes.

The cops returned the fire, fatally injuring Barnes, from whom a handgun was reportedly recovered.

When the officers were arrested and charged on February 5, 2003, for the killing of Barnes – who was wanted for murder, rape, robbery and several shootings in and around the Bull Bay area – angry residents mounted roadblocks, claiming that they were not safe while Barnes was around.