Tashieka Mair, Gleaner Writer

Justice Marjorie Cole-Smith inspects the guard of honour during Wednesday's opening of the Easter session of the St James Circuit Court. Beside her is Inspector Ralph Medley. - Photo by Tashieka Mair

WESTERN BUREAU:

Justice Marjorie Cole-Smith asked that "no flimsy excuses" be given by persons who wish to be exempted from juror duties during the Easter session of the St James Circuit Court, which opened on Wednesday.

Justice Cole-Smith, who will preside over the four-week sitting, asked the more than 50 jurors to cooperate with the court in its effort to dispose of the 23 cases set before it.

"I hope that we will not get any excuses about high blood pressure and diabetes because that will not excuse you from serving," the judge said. "Come out and serve your parish because crime is very high here and we need your help, so do not put forward any flimsy excuses, so the business of the court can go on."

The cases listed for trial include 16 murders, four sexual offences - rape, buggery, incest and carnal abuse - two cases of wounding with intent and one death by dangerous driving.

Several of the cases were carried over from the last sitting of the St James Circuit Court. One of the murder cases, that of the 2006 massacre of five family members in Retirement, St James, by gunmen, is set for retrial as the matter ended in a hung jury after three weeks before the court.

Matter at hand

The accused men are 22-year-old Sylvan Green, Rick Throe, 23, both of Retirement addresses; and Alloy Shaw, 26, and Ricardo Taylor, 21, both of Granville in St James. They are to be assigned lawyers in time for April 16 when the matter is set for mention.

The victims of the attack were 43-year-old Lyris Ellis-Johnson, her 17-year-old daughter, Kay Wilson, son, Kirk Wilson, 19, and her stepson, 15-year-old Troy Johnson. Her husband and two sons, aged 14 and 10, were shot and injured.

Allegations are that about 10:00 p.m. on November 18, 2006, three gunmen kicked open the door to the Johnsons' residence as the family watched television. The men opened fire hitting seven persons.

The accused men were arrested on November 20, 2006, after police reportedly took them from a bus along the Rose Hall main road in St James.