THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is expected to review the files of three policemen and a former member of the force who have been charged with murder in relation to the shooting death of two brothers in 2001.

The four — Deputy Superintendent Merverald Smith, corporals Byron Anderson and Lorie O’Gilvie, and ex-policeman Altimont Shakes — were arrested yesterday following last week’s ruling by a Coroner’s Court that they were responsible for the murder of the two brothers at a house on Whitehall Avenue in Kingston on March 10, 2001.

The accused contend that they were forced to open fire after the brothers fired upon when they entered the house they were in.

DPP Paula Llewellyn made the disclosure about the review yesterday during the bail application of the men, at which time concerns were raised by their attorneys about the length of time that has elapsed between the alleged incident and when they were charged.

The lawyers — QC George Soutar, Bert Samuels, Peter Champagnie and Christopher Townsend — also raised concerns that the sole civilian witness gave two contradictory statements.

One of the statements is said to have supported the position of the accused men that the brothers were shot and killed in self-defence, while the other statement outlining the prosecution’s position is not signed by the witness, is undated, and bears no certificate of authenticity.

The four, who were each offered bail in the sum of $500,000 each, with reporting conditions, are to return to court on November 4.

— Paul Henry