Shineka Gray murder trial: Investigator describes horrific crime scene
MONTEGO BAY, St James – A foul stench, a condom, and its wrapper were some of the observations a crime scene investigator recalled on the stand Tuesday as he described horrific details about the gruesome discovery of the body of murdered teenager Shineka Gray.
The 14-year veteran of the police force told the St James Circuit Court that on February 1, 2017, about 5:00 pm, he was on duty and responded to a call from a detective constable. He then proceeded to Riverside Drive in Fairfield, Irwin, St James. He described the environment as densely vegetated and mostly composed of marl and gravel.
He stated that he was directed along the road where he smelled a foul stench, then to a specific area where he saw a condom box, a condom, and a condom wrapper. He also told the court that he saw the body of a young female dressed in a long-sleeved black blouse and tiger-print skirt a few metres away on the same side of the road. He said the deceased’s legs were crunched up to her stomach, exposing her private areas.
The cop was the 11th witness to testify in the murder trial of Gregory Roberts, who is accused of the 2017 murder of the 15-year-old Green Pond High School student.
Convicted co-defendant Mario Morrison, who is a Crown witness, testified on November 30 that he and Roberts had sex with the teenager before filming her stabbing death in Irwin. He also stated that the sexual act was not forced because Shineka freely consented to it on Roberts’s instructions.
Morrison, who is currently serving a life sentence in relation to the teenager’s murder, also told the court that he used Roberts’s cellphone to record Roberts stabbing Shineka while she cried and pleaded throughout the fatal ordeal on the night of January 29, 2017.
In his evidence-in-chief on Tuesday, the forensic crime scene investigator described Shineka’s skin as dark as a result of sunburn, and peeling. He said that flesh was also protruding through her blouse and that she had multiple lacerations to her body. Her face was also swollen, according to him, and her tongue was clenched between her teeth.
The exhibits were secured, according to the officer, and the schoolgirl’s body was turned over to mortuary attendants and transported to Cornwall Regional Hospital where the teenager was pronounced dead.
The officer said the exhibits were later sent to the forensic laboratory in Kingston.
The trial, which began on November 23, has so far heard from 12 of the 18 witnesses. Ten witnesses gave sworn evidence while two other statements were read into evidence.
The trial continues on Thursday.