ST JAMES, Jamaica— A judge on Monday expressed discontent with the sluggish pace at which police are completing court files for a murder case involving a man identified as one of St James’ most wanted.

During proceedings in the St James Parish Court, presiding judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton expressed her displeasure upon learning that multiple documents pertaining to Joseph McKenzie’s two murder charges had not been included in the case file.

McKenzie is charged with the April 6, 2023 murder of 21-year-old labourer Darian Bowman and the April 27, 2024 murder of 28-year-old shopkeeper Randy McNeil.

The documents that are still pending include two post-mortem reports, a forensic report, a ballistics certificate, and a chain-of-custody statement.

“We need to have this wrapped up, as this is taking too long. We have wasted an hour of court time doing absolutely nothing… Mr McKenzie has several matters before this court, and before the court elsewhere [Western Regional Gun Court], and I must remind you that a person is innocent until proven guilty,” said Fairclough-Hylton.

“Isn’t Mr McKenzie branded as one of St James’ most wanted men? If it is that you are saying that he is as dangerous as you make him out to be, then I would think the least you could do is clear the file so that I can have the opportunity to see whether or not a prima facie case has been made out against him,” Fairclough-Hylton added.

The judge, who stated that she has high expectations of police officers, pointed out that McKenzie has been detained since August 28 and that the file against him has not been presented for review to determine whether or not a case has been made out against him.

The investigating officers handling McKenzie’s case were not present at Monday’s court session. The court was told one of them is in training.

It was also revealed that McKenzie has not yet retained a lawyer though the court was previously informed that an attorney had been approached to act as defence counsel.

The case was subsequently set for case management on December 4, and McKenzie was remanded.

He was charged in September this year with the murders of Bowman and McNeil after he was captured during a police operation on Harvey Beach in Coral Gardens, St James.

Prior to being apprehended, he was featured on Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Wanted Wednesdays as the most sought-after individual in St James.

Regarding Bowman’s death, it is alleged that on April 6, 2023 motorists travelling along the Flanker main road in St James witnessed him running and bleeding profusely from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to hospital by a Jamaica Defence Force unit. He died while receiving medical care.

Meanwhile, McNeil was reportedly walking along Flanker road on April 27 this year when he was ambushed by a gunman who shot him several times. McNeil was later pronounced dead at hospital.