MONTEGO BAY, St James — In Monday’s summation to the jury that will soon decide the fate of murder accused Gregory Roberts, Supreme Court judge, Justice Bertram Morrison cautioned that a key witness for the prosecution could be lying but also emphasised that indisputable video evidence was damaging to the defence.

As he provided the jury in the Shineka Gray murder trial with guidance, Justice Morrison stressed the importance of testimony provided by a witness identified only as Gangster, and that of Mario Morrison — the co-accused who made a plea deal with the prosecution and got life in prison.

The judge described Morrison as Roberts’s accomplice and noted that he was no stranger to the legal system.

“Members of the jury, you have to approach Morrison’s testimony with caution. He promised the authorities to tell the whole truth, however that does not say that he has done so. So, it is for you to decide the extent to which he has done so,” stated Justice Morrison.

Mario Morrison had testified that while he had sex with the 15-year-old girl, he did not inflict the fatal wounds. He claimed that Roberts, who also had sex with the teenager, was the one who stabbed her multiple times. Mario Morrison also said Roberts took out his phone and videotaped himself hugging the girl before giving him the phone to record Roberts inflicting the wounds with a knife.

However, Justice Morrison told the jury to be careful because it is not known if Mario Morrison had a motive of his own to serve when he gave his testimony.

In respect to Gangster, Justice Morrison said his testimony is also important because of what he saw that evening.

The judge noted that even though Gangster told the court that he could not read and write, “he told you what he saw”.

Gangster had stated that he was shown a video of Roberts standing over the girl and repeatedly inflicting wounds to the teen’s body.

“Videos do not tell lies. It captures what it is directed at,” stated Justice Morrison.

He said the video that Gangster saw can be considered as collaborative evidence.

Also on Monday, the case was briefly adjourned as a result of a police delay in providing Roberts with his lunch. When the case was called up following the court’s lunch break at 2:25 pm, Justice Morrison was told of the development. In adjourning the sitting to allow time for Roberts’s meal to be brought from the Freeport lock-up, the judge noted that this was the third time that such a development had been brought to his attention. He urged the police to do better.

“We cannot treat him like that,” stated an obviously displeased Justice Morrison, who then sought answers from the police on the reason for the delay.

“It cannot be. He has to be fed, and it means that there will have to be further delay in my summation.”

The case resumed at 2:45 pm. It continues on Tuesday when Justice Morrison is expected to conclude his summation.

Tenth-grader Shineka Gray was found dead with stab wounds in Irwin, St James, on February 1, 2017, three days after she had been reported missing. She was last seen alive in Montego Bay while on her way home from the funeral of a schoolmate.

Roberts and his co-accused, Mario Morrison, were later taken in custody in connection with the killing.