Peeved Andem complains about trial postponement
January 17, 2008
FACED with another postponement to the start of his trial for the 2000 murder of businesswoman Sylvia Edwards, accused Joel Andem on Monday made his disapproval known to the court.
After the court was informed that the trial would not be able to proceed because the retired investigator in the matter was off the island, a peeved Andem complained to Justice Lloyd Hibbert in the Home Circuit Court that the case was taking too long to start and that he is doubtful that the matter will ever be tried.
However, in an attempt to alleviate the fears of the reputed former Giddeon Warrior's boss, prosecutors said that if they were unable to make contact with the investigator by the new trial date, April 7, it would proceed by way of the Evidence Amendment Act.
Two other accused in the murder - Rohan Masters and Rupert Wallace - were not brought to court as the police did not have the necessary back-up to escort the men who are in police custody, the court was told.
Edwards, 48, a Kingston gas station operator, was kidnapped from a shopping mall on Red Hills Road, St Andrew in July 2000 and later shot and killed after a $200,000 ransom was not paid over to her kidnappers.
Her body was later found buried in a shallow grave at University Heights in Constitution Hill, St Andrew.
Andem is currently serving prison time on other criminal convictions.
Author: Observer Reporter
Source: Jamaica Observer
