December 26, 2024
Ocho Rios, St. Ann. Jamaica
LATEST NEWS THE COURTS

Accused in 2013 murder loses cool in court saying he feared for his life in lock-up • Case hitched as witness disappears

objectionA man, who is charged for murder and a wounding with intent, was remanded in custody pending the hearing of his case when he appeared before the St Ann Parish Court On Tuesday, December 12.

He is Kayson Walker, who is charged with the 2013 murder of 37-year-old Dwayne Brown of Pineapple, Ocho Rios and the wounding of an inmate while he was in custody.

On Tuesday, the crown indicated that a main witness in the case has absconded from the witness protection programme and that her whereabouts were unknown.

The prosecution was not in the position to serve Walker’s files to his attorney, Nathan Geddes-Morrison last Tuesday. Geddes-Morrison said that was said at the last mention date and outlined a number of reasons the case should have progressed.

One reason stated by Mr Geddes-Morrison is that the prosecution should have “made use of the time” while the witness was still under the witness protection programme.  Geddes questioned the date of the “disappearance” of the witness and concluded that state has no evidence against Walker.

LAWYER FRUSTRATED

In expressing his frustration at the time Walker has spent in custody, Mr Geddes-Morrison also brought to the attention of the court that Walker had been stabbed twice whilst in custody. “Everybody has kept quiet and this man is in custody, it is quite inappropriate that my client (Walker) has been stabbed twice while in custody,” he said, pointing to something on the head of the accused.

Similarly Walker, who says he has been in custody for three years, spoke in rage in court saying he was promised he would have been sent home on that day. Walker told Judge Wilson that he had no intention of disrespecting him but “ unu ago mek them kill me inna jail, me nuh waa dead a jail, a two stab mi get inna mi head in deh enuh.”

There was a lengthy discussion between Mr Geddes-Morrison and Judge Wilson after which it was concluded that the whereabouts of the witness is to be ascertained by the investigating officer.

Walker was remanded in custody and is to be brought back to court on Thursday, February 16, 2017, when the hearing of the case will take place.

 

THE MURDER and CHARGE

The body of Dwayne Brown otherwise called ‘Donkey’ was found at the Buckfield playing field in Ocho Rios by persons who had gone to play football on the morning of May 22, 2013.

Brown’s hands were bound and his throat slashed. It was believed that he was not murdered at that location but elsewhere and his body dumped there.

Walker has an additional charge for wounding a man, while both of them were in custody.

It is alleged last year, Walker got into arguments with one of the prisoners who were sharing a meal and Walker later stabbed the man behind the ear. The prisoner was taken to the hospital and treated.