Jury to hear murder case next week

A 12-member jury is expected to begin hearing evidence next Monday in the murder trial of Joel Philemon Maynard, who has denied killing Kevin Atherley in 2019.

Maynard, now 38, of Padmore Village, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Atherley on September 26, 2019.

Atherley’s body was found in Harrow Land, St Philip, bearing several wounds.

The  jury of seven women and five men was empanelled to hear the case, which is being presided over by Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell in the No. 4 Supreme Court. 

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC, who is prosecuting the case with acting Senior State Counsel Paul Prescod and State Counsel Tomeisha Sobers, told the court that the accused and deceased had been friends but had fallen out.

He said: “It is alleged that on that fateful day the accused met the deceased along a somewhat lonely path at that time and an altercation occurred which left the deceased with multiple wounds about his body. Police conducted investigations and these concluded almost after a year had passed when the accused man was brought into custody, was interviewed and charged with the offence.”

Maynard is represented by attorney Sian Lange.

(JB)