KINGSTON, Jamaica — The defence team in the X6 murder trial today painted Khajeel Mais as a troubled teenager who was suspended from school, on more than one occasions, and had a matter in the Juvenile Court.

Attorney Deborah Martin, during her cross-examination of Khajeel’s mother Allana Mais, grilled her about Khajeel’s issues in school, which were behavioural and attendance related.

Mais, under cross-examination, admitted that her son had issues with staff and teachers at Kingston College and was suspended more than once from the institution.

She also admitted that he had a number of issues while in third form, which resulted in her being called a number of times by the school. She admitted too that he had a matter before the Juvenile Court.

However, when questioned about whether she was aware that her son had not been attending classes, Mais explained that her son was not happy with the classes he had been placed in and was allowed, by the teachers, to sit in classes he was interested in.

Further to that she said she could not recall being made aware that he was off campus when he should have been at classes.

Businessman Patrick Powell is being tried for murder and shooting with intent in relation to the 2011 death of 17-year-old Khajeel.

Khajeel was reportedly travelling in a taxi that collided with a BMW X6 motor vehicle. It is alleged that the driver of the BMW got out and fired at the car, hitting the boy.

Powell is also charged with shooting at taxi driver Wayne Wright with intent to cause harm.

Tanesha Mundle