THE murder trial involving ex-policeman Mark Russell, who is accused of killing a teenager during a joint police/military operation in 2007, was yesterday adjourned early but will continue today in the Home Circuit Court, downtown Kingston.

The matter was first adjourned yesterday after Russell indicated during the close of the morning session that he wished to speak with his lawyer, Michael Jordan. Consequently, the matter was adjourned early before the lunch break for him to consult with his lawyer. However, on resumption his lawyer asked for additional time to complete his consultation with his client, hence the matter was adjourned.

Jordan, before asking for the adjournment, told the presiding judge that he had sought to have discussions with his client on the weekend but was not successful.

Russell, who was extradited after fleeing to the United States before he was charged in 2012, is accused of murdering 18-year-old Ravin Thompson on July 27, 2007 during what was reported by the police as a confrontation between the security forces and gunmen at his gate on Alexander Road in Kingston.

The trial has so far heard testimonies from three soldiers that Russell and an ex-policeman, Morris Lee, who is on the run, took the injured teen from the army vehicle while on their way to the Kingston Public Hospital and that Russell placed a weapon in Thompson’s hand and shot him to death.

Yesterday, during the morning session, one of the soldiers who was called to give further evidence reiterated that he had fired at a man who had pointed a gun at him and the man ran through the gate and into Thompson’s yard.

He also testified that he later saw Thompson’s body lying in the vicinity of the gateway and also saw a weapon in the yard which he later saw at the police post at the Kingston Public Hospital.

He later identified the Smith and Wesson gun that was photographed by an investigator as that which he had seen in Thompson’s yard.

— Tanesha Mundle