Shineka Gray murder accused not fed, judge livid

The continuation of the presiding judge's instructions to the jury in the trial of Gregory Roberts, the defendant in the 2017 murder of schoolgirl Shineka Gray, was temporarily put on hold this afternoon following the revelation that the accused was not fed on time.

A visibly aggravated High Court Justice Bertram Morrison ordered that the hearing should resume only after Roberts received his lunch.

Roberts, who is in police custody, did not get his food in a timely manner during the lunch break in Monday's proceedings at the St James Circuit Court.

"This is a comment I have had to make on at least three occasions. We cannot treat him like that, he is a human being," Morrison said in a chastising tone before ordering that Roberts should be given the chance to refresh himself.

On previous court dates throughout his trial, Roberts informed the court that he had not been given an opportunity to have his meals ahead of his scheduled appearances.

As a result of today's delay, Morrison's ongoing instructions to the jury were pushed back to later on Monday afternoon.

Earlier this morning, in his instructions and summation of the evidence, Morrison advised the jury that they should treat with caution the evidence presented by Roberts' former co-defendant Mario Morrison, who testified for the prosecution, because of the likelihood that the latter may have a particular interest to serve.

On the other hand, the jury was advised that the photographic evidence which has been presented so far should be taken into consideration during their eventual deliberations.

Shineka Gray, a then 15-year-old student of the Green Pond High School, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in Irwin, St James on February 1, 2017, three days after she was last seen alive in Montego Bay while returning home from the funeral of a schoolmate.

- Christopher Thomas

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.