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.
