Two non-capital murder matters were adjourned today as some prisoners are said to be in quarantine until February 12.
Justice Randall Worrell, who presides in the No. 2 Supreme Court, had a number of matters set down for hearing via Zoom link but many of those matters were given dates for later this month and in March. The impact of COVID on the court system has resulted in the shift to online hearings.
Today, three matters were adjourned as a result of some persons being quarantined at HMP Dodds; as revealed by Justice Worrell.
A source within the prison said the prison was not yet back in “full mode” and that “some areas were still locked down as a precaution”.
The matter against 24-year-old Faith Angelica Pile, her brother Jamar Antonio Pile, 30, and Faith’s boyfriend Shamar Sherwin Omar Crichlow, 23, was set down for March 5, 2021.
Lawyers in the matter, Michael Lashley Q.C. and Angella Mitchell-Gittens along with Crown Counsel Romario Straker are expected to make sentencing submissions on that date. Pre-sentencing reports which were ordered in the case are still to be presented.
The three had pleaded guilty to non-capital murder in the case of David Nicholas Blenman in November 2020. Blenman, a St Peter resident, was found dead at Foul Bay Beach, St Philip. He was said to have been murdered between November 30 and December 1, 2016.
Statements from Jamar and Shamar recounted how Blenman’s car was hijacked, he was tied up with a seatbelt before he was stripped naked and drowned. The culprits used his ATM card to withdraw money from his bank account. The act was blamed on Blenman’s failure to pay for “services”.
In another case, Omar Ryan O’neal Hurdle’s matter was also adjourned today and his next appearance is set for March 16, 2021. Hurdle, who is represented by lawyer Safiya Moore, pleaded guilty to a non-capital murder on August 21, 2020, some four years after the death of 32-year-old Dwayne Jason Omar Gooding, formerly of My Lord’s Hill St Michael.
Hurdle who resided at 3rd Avenue Ivy, St Michael said in a statement, that the fateful night started with him having a Guinness at a bar. As he set out to make his way home, the night took a turn for the worse and Hurdle found himself in a fight with some men who damaged his bicycle. He was stoned and bottles were thrown at him resulting in head injuries.
Though Hurdle was at home when he realized the cut to his head, in anger he retrieved a “sword and went in search of the men to “retaliate”. The statement said he saw a man and began “chopping” until he “stop moving”. However Hurdle disputed this part of the statement.
Later, Hurdle walked to a gas station and called 211. The responder to the call recalled Hurdle admitting chopping up a man, indicating his location and asking for the police to be sent. The officers, who later arrived, were led by Hurdle, to an area near the St Giles Primary School. Officers saw Gooding with several chops to his body and though alive then, he later died. A psychiatric report was ordered in the matter.
