Juror shortage delays trial of men charged with gang leader’s murder
MONTEGO BAY, St James — The trial of two men charged with the 2020 murder of a reputed gang leader has been delayed because the court is having difficulty finding a sufficient number of jurors.
The trial, which was scheduled to begin in the St James Circuit Court on Monday, has been pushed back to next year.
Damar Brown and Jamar Brown, both of St James addresses, have been charged with the murder of Ricoy “Smurf” Smith from Hugga Lane, Norwood, in the parish.
Smith is alleged to have been the leader of the Hugga Lane gang, which has been operating out of the Norwood area. He was also a person of interest in a double murder investigation.
The case against Damar and Jamar Brown was set for trial before High Court Justice Judith Pusey, but only 21 of the 500 jurors summoned were served.
“The matter cannot be tried today because there is not enough jurors…We hope by next week there will be more jurors,” Justice Pusey told the two men.
The court was also informed that the Crown has 13 witnesses listed, but only two police witnesses were present on Monday.
However, prosecutor Christine Johnson Spence told the court that all of the absent witnesses are available. Subpoenas for those witnesses are to be issued.
The case was rescheduled for trial on January 16, 2024, and the two men were ordered remanded.
Reports by the police are that about 5:10 pm, Smith and two other men were travelling in a motor car along Jimmy Cliff Boulevard.
On reaching the vicinity of the Montego Club Hotel, a man armed with a handgun who was travelling in another vehicle, pulled up beside them and opened fire.
Smith and his two companions stopped the vehicle on the side of the road, and all three men ran towards the hotel.
The gunman, however, pursued Smith and after catching up with him shot him multiple times. The shooter then fled in the waiting motor vehicle.
Smith was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The police were summoned and swift action resulted in several roadblocks being placed throughout the town, resulting in the arrest of the alleged shooter and the driver.
