MONTEGO BAY, St James — The trial of members of the Qahal Yahweh group, who were arrested and charged with violations of the Child Care and Protection Act, has hit a snag.

The trial, which was scheduled to resume in the St James Parish Court on Thursday, was postponed due to two challenges.

One factor contributing to the postponement was the unavailability of the defendants’ legal representative, King’s Counsel (KC) Peter Champagnie. Another factor was the non-appearance of the defendant, Omar Thompson, who is currently incarcerated at the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre and was not transported to court.

The court did not reveal the details of Thompson’s conviction.

Presiding judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce then set the case for continuation on July 26 and extended the bail of 15 defendants until then.

In relation to Thompson, a writ will be issued for his appearance in court on the specified date.

Sixteen members of the group were taken into custody during a joint special operation of the security forces at their Paradise Avenue compound in Montego Bay on June 30, 2023.

In addition to Thompson the accused are Christopher Anderson, Nekeisha Harding, Derrick Clarke, Roanalee Maitland, Alicia Meadley, Fabian Nelson, Franchain Paris, Jodian Spence, Jose Foskin, Oral Spence, Rayon Letman, Ingrid Williams, Jevaughn Johnson, Vera Woolery, and Melisha Thompson.

The charges were laid three weeks after the children of many of the accused were placed in State care.

The Qahal Yahweh compound, which is two doors away from the late Kevin Smith’s Pathway International Kingdom Restoration Ministries, made headlines in 2019 when authorities raided the property, leading to the arrest of its leader and the removal of 23 children from the compound.

The raid followed months of allegations by residents concerned about the children’s safety.

Another defendant, Rebecca Gallimore, was given a probation order and the case against her dismissed on a previous court date.