A year after a man slashed the throat of his ex-lover in Retreat, Brown’s Town, St Ann, the case has been sent to the circuit court for trial.
This was after the accused man faced a hearing into the matter, where a prima facie case was made out against him.
Liesha Matthews, a chef of Seaforth, St. Thomas is the man charged in connection with the murder of his ex-lover, 21-year-old Shana Gay Williamson, a shop keeper of Philadelphia and Retreat, St Ann.
He appeared before parish judge Peter Wilson on Tuesday, December 13.
EVIDENCE OVERWHELMING
At the hearing into the matter, all the statements were accepted as being compliant with the Committal Proceedings Act (CPA) by the defense, the prosecution and the judge.
After reviewing the case file in chambers, Judge Wilson determined that a prima facie case was made out against Matthews and there was strong evidence against him.
This means that following the examination of the statements, there was sufficient corroborating evidence to support the prosecution’s burden of proof.
The matter was later committed to the Hilary session of the St Ann Circuit Court for trial on January 30.
BAIL DENIED
In an interview with The Times, Matthew’s attorney, Peter McHugh had explained that he had applied for bail on behalf of his client.
However, that application had been denied by Judge Wilson on the basis that Matthews was a flight risk. The judge had also mentioned the strength of the prosecution’s case against him.
Matthews was remanded into custody until January 30, when the matter is to appear before the circuit court.
CUT HER THROAT
It is alleged that shortly after 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 2, 2015, Shana Gay Williamson was at a bar she operated in Retreat, near Brown’s Town, when Matthews came there and started to accuse her of several things.
Reports are that Matthew’s threatened to set Williamson ablaze and threw gasoline on her. He, however, made a failed attempt to strike a match.
Ms. Williamson ran from the bar to a neighbour’s yard and was chased and eventually caught by Matthews. It was reported at that time that Matthews threw her down several steps and then used a knife to cut her throat.
THROWN OVER BALCONY
At a bail application for Matthews in January (which was later denied), it was revealed by the crown prosecutor that Matthews threw Williamson over a balcony and then proceeded to cut her throat.
Relatives had said that the couple resided together in Philadelphia in Brown’s Town, but Williamson ended the relationship, citing repeated physical abuse. They had a child together.
ON THE RUN FOR SIX DAYS
Matthews was on the run for six days. He was arrested on Saturday, August 8 at Oliver Road in Olympic Garden Kingston, through a joint operation set up by police from St Ann and St Andrew South. Matthews was charged by the police and made his first court appearance in the St. Ann’s Bay Resident Magistrate Court on Thursday, August 13, 2015.
