Judge to question witness in Shineka Gray murder trial

The presiding judge in the trial of Gregory Roberts, the man accused of the 2017 murder of schoolgirl Shineka Gray, is expected to exercise his power to have a witness brought before the St James Circuit Court to give evidence.

It is anticipated that Justice Bertram Morrison will ask questions of the witness before Roberts' defence team opens its case later this afternoon.

It is understood that the witness who is expected to be brought before the court was previously on the indictment to give evidence for the prosecution, but to date that person has not appeared before the court.

Additionally, the prosecution confirmed that one other witness, a former member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, will not be called to give evidence as they have migrated from Jamaica. The court was also told that it would not be possible for that witness to give evidence through electronic means, due to conflicting schedules.

It was previously anticipated that a total of 18 witnesses would testify in the Crown's case against Roberts. To date, 16 prosecution witnesses have given evidence.

Roberts is being tried under allegations that he stabbed and killed Gray, a 15-year-old student of the Green Pond High School in St James, on January 29, 2017. Gray's body was found in the Irwin, St James community on February 1, 2017.

- Christopher Thomas

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