Order granted for witnesses to testify online in ‘Shab Don’ murder trial
Published:Wednesday | March 12, 2025 | 12:08 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The St James Circuit Court has granted an application for two prosecution witnesses to give evidence via the online platform in the triple murder case against music producer Linval ‘Shab Don’ Thompson and Tajay Clarke, who are slated to stand trial on September 16.
Attorney-at-law Donahue Martin, who is part of the defence team for Thompson and Clarke, gave the update in an interview with The Gleaner yesterday, following the accused men’s latest court appearance before presiding High Court Justice Judith Pusey.
“The prosecution got the order granted, and the matter is set for trial readiness hearing on July 15, with a trial date for September 16. They had applied for two witnesses to give evidence by special measures,” Martin said.
It was previously reported that the prosecution had made the application in relation to one witness, who is said to be in prison in Florida in the United States. The application was originally made on July 8 this year, ahead of the intended trial date of February 19, but the matter was subsequently put off until March 4, and then again to Tuesday’s latest mention date.
IN POLICE CUSTODY
Thompson and Clarke, who are now in police 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 gun attack at a party in Rose Heights, St James.
According to reports, several persons were attending a birthday party being held 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 were subsequently pronounced dead, while two other persons were wounded in the incident.
Thompson and Clarke are represented by attorneys Tom Tavares-Finson, Kadine Colman and Martin. The two men have been in custody despite efforts by their lawyers to secure bail for them, including a bail application on April 5, 2024.
On that occasion, their lawyers questioned the process by which the men were identified. Tavares-Finson argued that Thompson was not in the area and that reports indicated the perpetrators were wearing masks. Colman, speaking on Clarke’s behalf, said he needed to do a medical procedure, which he could not get while in custody.
However, High Court Justice Bertram Morrison, the presiding judge on that occasion, rejected the bail application.