MONTEGO BAY, St James — After four years in the judicial system, it has come to light that there is currently an issue regarding the identification of Toussaint “Dada” Lewis, who is before the St James Circuit Court for the 2020 murder of Renor Anderson.

The DNA certificate is one of the key documents still missing from the prosecution’s case file. This certificate contains critical information about genetic evidence that may influence the outcome of the trial.

Lewis, who is represented by attorney Charles Sinclair, is charged alongside co-defendant Andre “Lil Zulus” Reid with murder, illegal possession of firearm, and wounding with intent in relation to Anderson’s death.

The revelation regarding the identification of Lewis was not received favourably by High Court Justice Judith Pusey on Thursday. She emphasised that the case dates back to more than four years and pointed out that Lewis, who is facing a separate criminal charge in which he is the sole defendant, has not been granted bail since he was taken into custody.

“This is a matter from 2021, and the DNA would help with the identification. I am going to beg you to deal with this because the time has flown, and the bird has gone out of the coop… samples are to be taken in relation to both matters [for which Lewis is charged],” Pusey told the court officer as she scheduled the case for mention on May 14, ordering that a DNA certificate for Lewis be completed before that date.

Pusey also issued a bench warrant for Reid, who is currently on bail but was absent from Thursday’s sitting without explanation. She stayed the warrant’s execution until May 14, following attorney Sinclair’s presentation of Reid’s solid track record of court attendance.

Lewis and Reid were arrested and charged following Anderson’s September 11, 2020 death which reportedly took place in Catherine Hall, St James.

According to reports, Anderson was watching a friend’s roadside vending stall when he was approached and shot in the head and upper body by the defendants. The attackers escaped in a waiting Nissan motorcar.

A team of police officers who were on patrol in the area gave chase and the gunmen crashed their vehicle. A gun battle ensued, during which Lewis and Reid were shot and injured; two other men who were in their vehicle escaped.

It was also reported that at the time of the incident Lewis and Reid had recently been released from detention under a parish-wide state of public emergency.