Trials adjourned because of absent jurors

The absence of jurors resulted in two separate cases in the High Court being adjourned, but both are set to resume on Tuesday.

One of those was the murder trial of Conroy Anderson Ramsay which was set to resume on Monday after being suspended earlier this month when the accused tested positive for COVID-19.

When the case was called before Justice Randall Worrell in the No. 2 Supreme Court, the 11 waiting jurors were informed that the 12th member of the panel was unwell but expected to return on Tuesday.

Ramsay, of Godding Road, Station Hill, St Michael, is on trial for killing 24-year-old Kimberley Hinds, the mother of his child, on March 17, 2013.

The evidence already given in the trial was that Hinds’ naked body was discovered on the floor of the living room of her Rock Hall, St Thomas residence by her mother and sisters that afternoon.

Lead investigator Inspector Winston Goddard told the court that Ramsay told police he and Hinds were arguing and fighting at her home in the wee hours of March 17.

“I went up there to talk to her and things went bad and we end up fighting and she hit her head on the ground and I get frighten and I left,” he told police.

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

Ramsay is represented by attorney-at-law Angella Mitchell-Gittens.

In the other matter, Madam Justice Pamela Beckles told lawyer Ernest Winston Jackman that his theft and money laundering trial would resume on Tuesday.

It was set to resume on Monday, after the judge told him last week that it would continue in the No. 5 Supreme Court whether or not he had a lawyer.

However, it still had to be adjourned as one juror was absent.

Attorney-at-law Hilary Nelson had actually showed up for the case, saying he had “an interest in the matter”, but did not go on record as Jackman’s legal counsel.

“I have an interest in the matter in that Mr Jackman has contacted me regarding the same. However, I cannot enter an appearance until I am fully instructed,” the lawyer told the court, adding that he also had to visit the doctor that day.

However, Justice Beckles made it clear the case will continue on Tuesday.

Jackman is charged with stealing $678,414.75 from HEJ Limited between June 23, 2006 and March 5, 2007.

He is also accused of engaging in money laundering by allegedly disposing of the money between June 23, 2006, and October 18, 2011. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Principal Crown Counsel Krystal Delaney is the prosecutor in the matter.