Michael Issa back to court June 29
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Businessman Michael Issa, who has been charged with resisting arrest and the use of indecent language, returns to court on June 29.
On Monday, his attorney Michael Hemmings wrapped up his cross-examination of the prosecution’s first witness, Detective Sergeant Michael Chisholm.
Hemmings pointed to what he said were four omissions by Detective Chisholm in his recording of statements at the Freeport Police Station.
Among the omissions, he said, are claims the detective made in court that a friend of Issa’s was present when the businessman gave a statement about his missing firearm, and that Chisholm had received a firearm identification from Issa.
“I am saying to you that you did not say that in the statement. Do you want an opportunity to look at your statement?” Hemmings asked Detective Chisholm.
After going through a copy of the statement provided, Chisholm told the court he did not see the information in question and conceded that he first provided that information in court.
Another omission pointed out by the defence involved claims made by Detective Chisholm that when Issa entered the police station a firearm and/or bulge was seen on the businessman’s side.
“There are four omissions thus far. This is the fourth one,” Hemmings told presiding Judge Kaysha Grant.
After a brief re-examination of Chisholm the prosecution informed the court that its second witness, a detective, is on leave.
The court then set June 29 as the next date for the case to be heard.
Issa was initially charged on January 13 with negligent loss of a firearm, resisting arrest, and indecent language. The firearm was later found and that charge did not proceed. Issa is the stepfather of Gabriel King, the autistic nine-year-old who was found on January 12 slumped in the back seat of his mother’s car with his throat slashed. The young boy’s body was found shortly after his mother told police assailants dragged her from her car and drove away with him in it.
The incident allegedly took place on the Tucker main road in St James. The car was found on Oak Hill Avenue in Fairfield Estates.
There have been no arrests in the case and no suspects named.
The charges Issa is now facing stem from his interaction with the police in connection with his firearm and are unrelated to his stepson’s case.
