ST JAMES, Jamaica – A committal hearing has been set for a 21-year-old man who allegedly fatally shot another along the Hendon Norwood main road in St James in October last year.

Kirk Lawson is charged with the murder of 32-year-old Giovanni Barnett, also known as “Biggs” of Cherry Gardens in Norwood in the parish.

When the matter came up for mention in the St James Parish Court on Tuesday, the court was told that the case file was complete.

Presiding parish judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley instructed the clerk of court to serve the prosecution’s bundle on the defence on or before May 10.

Lawson, otherwise called ‘Kirky’ of Colombia Square, also in Norwood, was remanded in police custody. He is being represented by attorney-at-law Michael Hemmings.

It is alleged that about 7:15 pm on October 7 last year, residents reported hearing multiple loud explosions along the Hendon Norwood main road and called the police.

Barnett was later found lying on his back in a pool of blood on a section of the road, suffering from several gunshot wounds to the upper body and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

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The police in St James have also charged Lawson in connection with a shootout with cops on February 18, but that case is being heard in the Western Regional Gun Court.

The police reported that about 9:50 pm, a team was on operation in Hendon Norwood when they saw Lawson walking along the road.

His actions aroused their suspicion, and upon their approach, Lawson allegedly opened fire at the police team, who returned fire. One of the police officers was shot during the exchange.

The officer was taken to the hospital for treatment, where Lawson later showed up with a gunshot wound and was kept under police guard.

He was later charged with wounding with intent, possession of a prohibited weapon and two counts of shooting with intent.

READ: St James man charged after alleged shoot-out with police

The case is scheduled to be heard in the Gun Court on May 25.

A committal hearing is a preliminary hearing held in the parish courts when a person has been charged with an indictable offence. This hearing is held to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to justify sending the defendant to stand trial before a judge and a jury in the Circuit Court.