The murder trial of a cop and his sister paused on Friday, October 24 in the St. Ann Circuit Court, as a member of the jury was said to be absent because of the chikungunya virus.
However, Justice Courtney Daye who is presiding over the matter ordered that the juror be taken to the doctor and a medical certificate be presented to the court.
The court resumed after some time as the juror was then present.
Jeffrey and Roxanne Peart have been jointly charged for the May 2012 murder of Delroy Frame, a taxi operator from Hanover. Frame’s headless body was found in Wild Cane, St. Ann and his burnt out car was found about a mile away in a community called White Sands.
A police officer who began to present evidence on Thursday, October 23, continued on Friday and showed pictures of the crime scene to the court.
However, on the previous day when the prosecution had asked that the pictures of the crime scene be shown to the court, the defense counsel made an application to the judge saying that the pictures could influence the jurors’ decision.
The parents of the deceased also took the stand to present evidence on Friday. In the previous week the case was held up by a shortage of jurors.
Frame was a complainant in a corruption case against Peart in the court in Hanover.
The prosecution is alleging that the siblings lured Frame to the far south of St Ann where he was beheaded and his body dumped in bushes. His motor vehicle was also set ablaze.
Following investigations the siblings were arrested and charged.
Constable Peart who was on suspension from the Constabulary Force at the time of the murder has been in custody for over two years.
Jeffrey Peart has been remanded in custody while Roxanne Peart’s bail has been extended.
The trial continued yesterday October 27.
