Technical glitch hinders recall of witness in Shineka Gray murder trial

The St James Circuit Court was forced to abort today's planned recall of a police witness in the trial of Gregory Roberts, the man charged with the 2017 murder of schoolgirl Shineka Gray, due to technical difficulties.

The witness was unable to give testimony as attempts to connect to the Zoom platform failed.

The prosecution had intended to recall the witness, who had testified earlier in the trial and was unable to physically attend today's sitting, to face questions about an evidentiary exhibit.

The matter was adjourned to tomorrow by presiding High Court Justice Bertram Morrison.

Earlier, the prosecution had voiced its intention to recall the police witness as two other intended witnesses for the Crown were unavailable to give evidence.

To date, 16 of the 18 prosecution witnesses have testified in the case against Roberts, who is accused of stabbing 15-year-old Gray to death on the night of January 29, 2017.

Gray, who was a student at Green Pond High School in St James, went missing after last being seen alive in Montego Bay while returning home from the funeral of a schoolmate.

Her body was found on February 1, 2017.

Since the beginning of Roberts' trial on November 23, 2023, the court has heard evidence suggesting that he killed Gray while video-recording himself in the act, with help from his former co-accused Mario Morrison.

There has also been testimony indicating that Roberts corresponded with his ex-girlfriend and her mother by phone in the hours leading up to Gray's death, reportedly advising them of his actions while accusing the ex-girlfriend of conning money from him.

- Christopher Thomas

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