Soldier freed of murder but to be tried for manslaughter
A Jamaica Defence Force soldier was on Wednesday acquitted of a charge of murder in the Home Circuit Court.
However, the accused, Private Denroy Briscoe, is to be tried on a charge of manslaughter after an 11-member jury failed to reach a verdict on that matter. He is scheduled to return to court on July 31 when the manslaughter case against him will be mentioned.
Briscoe’s trial for the murder of Michael Murdoch started on May 10.
Murdoch was shot on June 20 last year at his yard in Franklin Town after he left his house to investigate
a disturbance.
Briscoe, in his defence, said that he fired his weapon at a man who pointed a gun at him after being chased into the yard by himself and two other soldiers.
The trial started with 12 jurors but one member of the panel, who had a ‘difficulty’, was excused.
Briscoe was represented by attorneys Linton Gordon, Tamiko Smith and Alwayne Smith.
The Crown was represented by Kathy Pyke and Kadeen Barnett, while Justice Gloria Smith presided over the trial.
