The trial of three members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) charged with the 2010 murder of businessman Keith Clarke continued in the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston on Wednesday with members of the media locked out.

When enquiries were made as to why the media was barred the Jamaica Observer was told that there was a risk of national security secrets being revealed to the public.

“It’s because issues of national security were being discussed,” a Observer source explained.

In the witness box on Wednesday was Brigadier Mahatma Williams of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), who has been on the stand since Tuesday when he began his testimony detailing how certain events unfolded on May 27, 2010, which was the day accountant Clarke was fatally shot at his house at 18 Kirkland Close in Red Hills, St Andrew.

Clarke was shot inside his house, more than 20 times including in his back during a security forces’ operation.

The operation was reportedly aimed at capturing then fugitive-drug lord Christopher “Dudus” Coke who was believed to have been hiding in Clarke’s basement with seven to eight of his heavily armed henchmen.

On trial for murder in relation to the shooting death of Clarke are lance corporals Greg Tingling and Odel Buckley as well as Private Arnold Henry.

It was reported that when members of the JDF and the police arrived at the location gunmen engaged them in a fierce gun battle which led to at least one soldier being injured.

When the smoke cleared, only the accountant laid dead at the scene inside his master bedroom.

On Tuesday Brigadier Williams told the trial that the plan during the operation was to safely capture and detain Coke.

“The soldiers who wore face covering, they would have been responsible for securing Coke. We had a helmet and a vest to put on him to prevent him from getting injured and then persons would guard him to the vehicle and then to where he was to be detained,” the senior military man said on Tuesday while being questioned by prosecutor Jermey Taylor.

Brigadier Williams shared that approval was given for soldiers to wear masks during the operation.

Attorneys representing the three soldiers insist that instead of being allowed to safely apprehending Coke, the drug lord’s heavily armed henchmen, who were hiding out with him in the basement, exchange gunfire with the security forces before escaping in a heavily forested area at the back of the Clarke’s residence.

Attorneys representing the soldiers assert that Clarke possibly fired his licensed firearm at members of the security forces.

Brigadier Williams gave a blow-by-blow account on Tuesday of certain events leading up to, and during the operation, at Clarke’s house.

“I had a troop deployed based on intelligence given at Up Park Camp. We engaged in battle procedure. There was a troop commander but I was in charge of the troops. We received intelligence on the number of persons we were seeking out, how they were armed, their morale and how they were trained,” Brigadier Williams said as he told the court that there were teams that left the military base for the location before his team.

“I remained at Up Park Camp and another team also remained behind. We were on duty so we responded to an unfolding situation. Approximately 20 soldiers were deployed with me. I believe Lance Corporal Tingling was there with me, but at the time I did not know who was on the ground with me. It was after the fact I knew who was there. I did not see who was on the convoy with me. There was no list with names of persons given to me,” Brigadier Williams said.

He told the court that on his way to the location he could hear gunfire and when he reached the location he saw soldiers taking cover.

Brigadier Williams said he was the highest ranking member of the JDF at the location at the time.

He told the court that an assessment was made that persons inside the Clarke’s house at 18 Kirkland Close could have been held hostage and therefore, efforts were made to cut their way through the front entrance grille and door of the house.

Brigadier Williams said he received a report that soldiers were fired upon from inside the house and that an injured person was escorted from the location.

“They used a power saw to gain entry. When they were using the power saw I was behind cover nearer to the gate. After a couple of seconds I heard firing, similar to what you’d hear in training. I went into the living room and saw two ladies and a policeman told me that someone was shot and injured downstairs or within the house. I don’t believe I saw any of the accused men in the house,” said Brigadier Williams.

He told the court that soldiers on his team received approval to wear balaclava masks during the operation.

“I went outside and called my Chief of Defence Staff, [Major] General [Stewart] Saunders. We departed the location and another group of soldiers took over the location. I am unable to say if any of the accused persons departed the location with me. Approval was given for my group to wear balaclava by the chief of defence staff,” said Brigadier Williams