MONTEGO BAY, St James — The trial of 16 members of the Montego Bay-based Qahal Yahweh group, who were arrested and charged with violation of the Child Care and Protection Act, has been pushed back to May 16.

It hit yet another snag in the St James Parish Court last Friday when it was postponed due to the absence of both the defendants’ lawyer and the trial judge.

King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, who represents the defendants, was not present during the proceedings. Instead, attorney Michael Hemmings appeared on his behalf, but no explanation was provided for the absence of the senior attorney.

Trial judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce, who has been overseeing the proceedings in this case since its inception on April 8, 2024, was also absent, with no explanation provided for her absence.

Before the adjournment last Friday, it was anticipated that the trial would continue with Champagnie conducting a cross-examination of a witness for the prosecution who had testified on February 14.

The witness, a children’s officer employed by the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), provided testimony regarding the unhygienic state of the Qahal Yahweh compound when authorities removed several children from the premises on June 7, 2023.

Children with flu-like symptoms, being given medicine with the same spoon, and sharing utensils were among the issues mentioned.

An earlier witness, also a CPFSA representative, testified on April 8, 2024 about seeing bunk beds, soiled clothes, buckets and basins of water, and damp ceilings with visible electric wires hanging from them inside buildings on the compound.

The witness also mentioned an upstairs room with an unmade bed and utensils covered in food particles, as well as an unpleasant odour resembling rotting food emanating from the bathrooms, bedrooms, and general gathering areas.

The 16 defendants on trial are Christopher Anderson, Nekeisha Harding, Derrick Clarke, Roanalee Maitland, Alicia Meadley, Fabian Nelson, Franchain Paris, Jodian Spence, Jose Foskin, Oral Spence, Rayon Letman and Ingrid Williams, Omar Thompson, Jevaughn Thompson, Vera Woolery and Melisha Thompson.

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

The charges came only 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 the church’s leader and the removal of 23 children from the compound.

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

The 16 defendants’ bails have been extended until the next court date.