Trial of Qahal Yahweh religious group delayed again
Defendants’ lawyer and trial judge absent; case rescheduled for May 16
Published:Monday | March 31, 2025 | 12:05 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The trial of 16 members of the controversial Montego Bay-based Qahal Yahweh religious group was delayed once again in the St James Parish Court on Friday due to the absence of both the defendants’ lawyer and the trial judge.
As a result, the case, which involves charges under the Child Care and Protection Act and the Education Act, has been rescheduled to May 16.
The defendants – Christopher Anderson, Omar Thompson, Jevaughn Thompson, Nekeisha Harding, Derrick Clarke, Roanalee Maitland, Alicia Meadley, Fabian Nelson, Franchain Paris, Jodian Spence, Jose Foskin, Oral Spence, Rayon Letman, Ingrid Williams, Vera Woolery, and Melisha Thompson – all had their bail extended by presiding Parish Judge Diahann Bernard.
During a brief hearing, it was revealed that the defendants’ lawyer, King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, had previously proposed May 16 as the new trial date. Attorney Michael Hemmings appeared on behalf of the defendants in Champagnie’s absence, but no reason was given for the senior attorney’s non-appearance.
JUDGE ABSENT
Trial judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce, who has been presiding over the case since it began on April 8, 2024, was also absent, with no explanation provided for her absence.
Prior to Friday’s adjournment, the trial was expected to proceed with Champagnie cross-examining a prosecution witness who had given evidence-in-chief on February 14 of this year.
The witness, a children’s officer from the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), had testified about unsanitary conditions at the Qahal Yahweh compound when authorities removed several children from the premises on June 7, 2023.
The conditions described included children exhibiting flu-like symptoms, being administered medication using the same spoon, and individuals sharing eating utensils.
An earlier witness, also a CPFSA representative, testified on November 22, 2024 that children and adults at the Qahal Yahweh compound were observed eating from a single large spoon, with some children coughing and having runny noses. The witness also reported seeing two teenage girls who appeared to be pregnant.
During the June 7, 2023 operation at the Qahal Yahweh compound in Paradise, Norwood, St James, 23 children were removed and placed in state care. A follow-up operation on June 30 led to the arrest and charging of the defendants.
The Qahal Yahweh group first gained national attention in 2019 when police removed six children, including a pregnant 16-year-old, from the compound. At the time, the group was under investigation for allegations including child marriages, human trafficking, abduction, child abuse, and sexual assault.