Nickoy Wilson, Gleaner Writer

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes this morning denied the prosecution’s request for a new trial date for three more cops implicated in the so-called Clarendon 'police death squad'.

Sykes has instead ordered the parties to be prepared to start the trial next Monday.

The court was told that if an adjournment was granted a trial date would not be available until 2020.

The trial was previously adjourned on two occasions.

“The days of unlimited access to the court’s time are at an end,” Justice Sykes said, citing that adjournments can only be granted for very good reasons.

Detective Corporal Kevin Adams, District Constable Howard Brown and Constable Carl Bucknor were charged in 2014 with the murder of Andrew Bisson on September 5, 2011.

Their trial was set to begin today but this morning the prosecution requested a new date after indicating that it is experiencing challenges with witnesses.

Syke’s rejection came after Queen’s Counsel Valerie Neita-Robertson, who is representing Adams, told the court that her client has been in custody since 2014 while his co-accused are out on bail.

Syke said that if the prosecution opposes Adams’ bail then the trial must begin next Monday.

He also said that constitutional standards must be upheld and observed.

"There are three grounds upon which bail can be denied. One of those principles is that if the person is granted bail the risk that will arise is so great that conditions cannot cure them. I have to make that assumption. If that is so, then the state has to get itself in a position to get in a position to commence trial to the constitutional standard."

Meanwhile, Adams is also charged with the January 14, 2013 murder of Adif Washington at the May Pen Hospital, for which he is awaiting trial.

More 'death squad' cops to go on trial

Eleven more police personnel are expected to stand trial for their alleged involvement in the so-called 'police death squad' in relation to murders committed between 2011 and 2014 in Clarendon. 

In 2014, the Independent Commission of Investigations levelled charges against 13 cops, two of whom have already been tried. 

One is Constable Collis 'Chucky' Brown who was last week found guilty of three counts of murder, one count of conspiracy to commit murder and one count of wounding with intent. 

Brown was tried for the 2009 murder of Damoy 'Gutty' Dawkins and the 2012 murders of Dwayne Douglas and Andrew Fearon. 

Brown was last year freed of murder and wounding with intent charges relating to the shooting death of Phaebian Dinnal and the wounding of another man on Windsor Avenue in May Pen, Clarendon in February 2010.

His co-accused Corporal Roan Morrison was also acquitted. 

Here is a list of the other cops awaiting trial:

*Murder of Andrew Bisson on September 5, 2011
Det. Corp. Kevin Adams
District Cons. Howard Brown
Cons. Carl Bucknor

*Murder of Sylvester Gallimore on May 5, 2011
Det. Corp. Kevin Adams
Cons. Pete Samuels
Cons. Witney Hutchinson

*Murder of Adif Washington on January 14, 2013
Det. Corp. Kevin Adams

*Murder of Martin Shand on January 4, 2014
Sgt. Ledford Gordon
Cons. Damon Robinson
Cons. Romaine De La Haye

*Murder of Adolphus Reader on February 28, 2013
Sgt. Mario Taylor
Spl. Cons. Shannon Allen

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