AFTER several hiccups the trial for Simeon Sutherland, the man accused of murdering former People’s National Party Member of Parliament Dr Lynvale Bloomfield, is set to begin in the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston on Wednesday, (November 2).

Bloomfield was discovered with multiple stab wounds by an employee at his Passley Gardens home in Portland on February 2, 2019. Two knives that were recovered at the politician’s house, along with a vest that was found in bushes near the premises, were said to be vital evidence in the case and were sent for forensic testing.

Days later, Sutherland was detained as a person of interest in the Portland Eastern Member of Parliament’s murder, but was released. However, he was rearrested in March and charged with murder and misprision of felony in connection with the stabbing death of the politician, shortly after forensic evidence reportedly linked him to the scene.

Monday when the matter was called up before Supreme Court Judge Justice Leighton Pusey, who is trying the matter alone, Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn, King’s Counsel, indicated that the Crown was in a position to proceed.

“We will go to a full trial,” she told the court, noting that it was hoped the matter would be completed on the same day.

Llewellyn said 10 of 16 witness statements have been agreed on between the prosecution and the defence, which means those witnesses will not have to appear before the court to give their evidence.

On Monday a youthful-looking Sutherland, smartly dressed in a black shirt with a slate grey tie and dark trousers, had his bail extended until Wednesday by the trial judge.

He is being represented by attorney Peter Champagnie, King’s Counsel. To date the police have not disclosed a motive for the politician’s killing. His attorney, however, has said the killing was not politically motivated.