By Christopher Thomas

Copyright jamaica-gleaner

WESTERN BUREAU:

The murder trial of music producer Linval ‘Shab Don’ Thompson and his co-defendant Tajay Clarke failed to get going on Tuesday, as Thompson was not taken to the St James Circuit Court.

Presiding High Court Justice Andrea Pettigrew-Collins rescheduled the matter to November 3 after being told that Thompson had not been transported from the Bethel Town Police Station in Westmoreland. He had been taken there from the Horizon Remand Centre in St Andrew, ahead of the court proceedings.

Thompson’s attorney, Donahue Martin, expressed surprise at the situation, noting that the trial date was outlined when the matter was last mentioned on March 11.

“The difficulty I have is that I am not sure how there could be a breakdown in communication when he (Thompson) was transported from the Horizon Remand Centre for this specific purpose for him to face his trial, and today was the trial date. Because of where he is, I would prefer a date for him to be brought, and then we have the next date fixed,” Thompson told Justice Pettigrew-Collins.

“All that needs to happen is that we ensure that he is here, and there is no real difficulty in bringing him here. The arrangements can be made to ensure that he is here on the next trial date,” the judge said, while noting that she had received an explanation from the court officer regarding Thompson’s absence and the vehicle that should have transported him.

HEARING DATE

Additionally, the prosecution told the court that it had three trials scheduled to start this week, and another two cases later this month, which would affect the start of Thompson’s and Clarke’s hearing. Following further discussions, Pettigrew-Collins set a November 3 date.

Thompson and Clarke, both of whom are in custody, are charged in relation to the May 25, 2022 deaths of 24-year-old Chamario ‘Chippy’ Calvin, 27-year-old Chadwell ‘Bomb Brain’ Frazer, and 26-year-old Toniann ‘Too Fly’ Reid, who were killed in a drive-by gun attack at a party in Rose Heights, St James.

According to reports, several persons were attending a birthday party along Marl Road in Rose Heights when men alighted from a motor vehicle and opened fire on the patrons before escaping. Calvin, Frazer, and Reid, who all suffered bullet wounds, were subsequently pronounced dead at the Cornwall Regional Hospital. Two other persons were wounded in the incident.

Thompson is also being represented by King’s Counsel Tom Tavares-Finson, while Clarke is represented by attorney Kadine Colman.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com