Policeman freed after seven years off duty
November 22, 2008
One of three policemen who have been taken off the job for the past seven years was set free on Thursday after a Home Circuit Court jury found him not guilty of a murder charge.
The jury retired for more than three hours and freed District Constable Sylford Williams of the murder of 23-year-old labourer Richard Williams, also called 'Truie', who was shot dead at a boat factory at 102 Spanish Town Road, Kingston.
Detective Constable Rohan Blackwood and District Constable Milton Elliston, who were charged jointly with Sylford Williams, will have to face a retrial because the jury failed to arrive at a verdict.
no trial date
Blackwood and Elliston are on bail and have been ordered to return to court next week Friday when a trial date will be set.
In addressing the jurors, attorney-at-law Ravil Golding, who represented Sylford Williams, said his client should be freed because there was no evidence that he participated in the murder.
The Crown, represented by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Caroline Hay and Crown Counsel Sharon Milwood Moore, alleged that on June 8, 2001, Richard Williams, who worked at the boat factory, was beaten and then fatally shot by Blackwood.
The Crown alleged that Richard Williams was killed in cold blood and there was a common design by the men to commit the act.
main witnesses
One of the main witnesses for the Crown was Daphne Miller, the mother of Richard Williams, who testified that she witnessed the incident. The witness testified that Sylford Williams was at the factory gate at the time Richard Williams was shot....
Author: Gleaner Reporter
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
