MONTEGO BAY, St James — The trial of attorney-at-law Gordon Brown began in the St James Parish Court on Thursday. He is answering charges in connection with actions taken while representing businessman Michael Issa, whose gun was reported missing then later found.

Issa is the stepfather of murdered autistic nine-year-old Gabriel King.

The well-known attorney is facing charges of perverting the course of justice at common law and obstructing the police.

Hours after his stepson was allegedly abducted, then found dead on January 13, Issa was charged with resisting arrest and indecent language when he went to the police station to report his licensed firearm missing. He was subsequently charged with negligent loss of firearm. The gun, which was said to have gone missing on December 17, 2021, and is unrelated to the child’s death, was later presented to the police. The charge of negligent loss of firearm against Issa was dismissed in court in March. However, he is currently on trial in the parish court for resisting arrest and the use of indecent language.

Brown has now found himself with charges to answer in connection with his actions while representing Issa. He is being represented by attorneys Henry McCurdy, Anna Gracie and Queen’s Counsel Carolyn Reid-Cameron.

When the case was called up in court on Thursday, the prosecution called its first witness, Detective Constable Julian Frasier. The 20-year veteran of the police force gave evidence about events that transpired on January 13 as he conducted an investigation into the young boy’s death.

He told the court that the police asked Issa for his licensed firearm but they were obstructed by Brown.

The court was told that even though Detective Frasier observed what appeared to be a firearm on Issa’s person during their interaction, and he saw Issa handing Brown what appeared to be a weapon, the gun was said to be missing.

Queen’s Counsel Reid-Cameron is expected to continue her cross-examination of the witness on August 13 when the case resumes. A second witness, Detective Sergeant Michael Chisholm, is also expected to take the stand as the case proceeds.

On Thursday, Detective Constable Frasier was asked not to speak with Chisholm about the case.

Meanwhile, Reid-Cameron has requested that certain statements in the possession of the prosecution be made available.

“Your honour, I have reason to believe that the Crown has in their possession an original statement from Peter Callen. This statement was taken by Sergeant Chisholm and is dated January 19, 2022. I would like for that original statement to be present at court the next occasion,” she requested.

As established in court, Callen allegedly later turned in Issa’s missing firearm to Superintendent Vernon Ellis, the then commanding officer for St James.

“I would also ask, through you, that the Crown provide and travel with an original statement for the officer who is currently in [the] dock as it relates to that other matter. The statement is dated January 15, 2022. And I would also ask that an original statement that belongs to Detective Sergeant Michael Chisholm that would have been taken in January 2022 be produced and made available because I am going to rely on them all,” she added.

Little Gabriel was found with his throat slashed and his body slumped on the back seat of his mother’s car shortly after she told police assailants dragged her from the vehicle and drove away with her child in it.

The incident allegedly took place on the Tucker main road in St James. The car was quickly found on Oak Hill Avenue in Fairfield Estates.

There have been no arrests in the case and no suspects named.