Men accused of killing teacher to go on trial in September

The case of eight men accused of murdering primary school teacher Dwight Holder more than six years ago has been deemed a priority by a High Court judge as he set September 12 for the matter to go before a jury.

“This is a priority trial. It takes precedence over all other matters in all courts; it will proceed with or without counsel and any accused who fails to appear will be arrested and remanded in custody until such time as a trial can commence,” Justice Carlisle Greaves declared on Wednesday.

He made the order in the No. 3 Supreme Court after three of the defence attorneys in the case against the eight St Michael men were a no-show when the case was called.

Rasheed Jabar Gittens and Akeem Adrian Gittens, both of Belleview Gap, Station Hill; Ayo Prince Bascombe, of Headleys Land, Bank Hall; Adrian Antonio Watts, of Windsor Road, Bank Hall; Brandon Damon Joseph, of Beckwith Street, the City; Kemal Mario Straker, of #15 Clapham Park; Nicholas Ricardo Clarke, of 2nd Avenue Gooding Road, Station Hill; and Rio Richian Jelani Benn, of Upper Dukes Alley, Vine Street, The City, have been accused of murdering Holder on August 6, 2015.

The 30-year-old was shot while at the corner of Longford Place and Bedford Land, Bush Hall, St Michael.

Director of Public Prosecutions Donna Babb-Agard Q.C. is prosecuting the case along with Crown Counsel Romario Straker.

All the accused men are represented by legal counsel.