Trial of 'death squad' cops stalled, Sykes takes issue with amended indictment

Nickoy Wilson, Gleaner Writer

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes this morning took issue with the Crown in the murder trial of three Clarendon cops alleged to be involved in a so-called police 'death squad' after it presented an amended indictment.

The new indictment indicates that the prosecution will be seeking to have an audio recording admitted into evidence and that it will introduce at least 10 new witnesses, including experts.

This has stalled the start of the trial which was set to begin this morning but was instead pushed back to 2:00 p.m.

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

The prosecution disclosed that it was unable to meet with the defence before the resumption of the case to decide on agreed evidence.

Sykes noted that the two previous indictments in the case did not indicate that an audio recording and expert witnesses would be used.

He charged that the changes in the indictment give the defence little time to prepare its case having been notified of the adjustments last Friday.

Sykes pointed out that his own preparation for the trial would also be affected.

Sykes said that the prosecution's actions could be seen as "an attempt to circumvent the judge's insistence that the trial begins today...I take a very dim view of that. Very very dim view."

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