Conflicting psychiatric reports slow Kilancholly murder trial
November 01, 2006
A trial date could not be set Monday in the case of 31-year-old security guard Jeffrey Perry, who is charged with the murder of three children at Kilancholly, St. Mary, because of conflicting psychiatric reports.
A psychiatric report was ordered for Perry this year but, after the Crown obtained the report in March, the defence submitted one which contradicted the one submitted by the Crown. The Crown then applied for another evaluation to be done.
Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Lisa Palmer, told the court on Monday that the Crown obtained a second psychiatric report last Friday and that also conflicted with the one presented by the defence.
Different reports
The psychiatric reports submitted by the Crown state that Perry is fit to plead while that for the defence states the opposite.
Mr. Justice Lloyd Hibbert said that based on the conflicts, the issue will have to be tried in the Home Circuit.
Perry was remanded to return to court on November 9. The Crown is alleging that Perry, who is a cousin of the children, fatally stabbed them on January 28, 2005. The deceased are 15-year-old Dwane Davidson, 13-year-old Sue Ann Gordon and four-year-old Shadice Williams.
Defence lawyers Linton Gordon and Carlene McFarlane are representing Perry.
Author: Gleaner Reporter
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
