Trial of Qahal Yahweh members set for February 9

The trial of 17 members of the St James religious-based group Qahal Yahweh who are charged with several counts of breaches of the Child Care and Protection Act is to start on February 9 in the St James Parish Court.

The prosecution withdrew two of the charges against them when they appeared in court on Friday.

King's Counsel Peter Champagnie is representing the 17 accused who are being tried together.

There were at first 13 persons charged but this month the police arrested four more persons.

They are Omar Johnson, Jevaughn Johnson, Vera Woolery and Melisha Thompson.

On June 30 last year, 13 members of the group were arrested when the police raided the Paradise Avenue compound in Montego Bay following reports of alleged child abuse.

When the accused, who are all on bail, appeared in court last month, Parish Judge Sasha Marie Smith was informed that there were still outstanding statements in the case.

The judge said the case should no longer remain on the mention list and set a trial date for January 26.

However, the trial could not proceed on Friday because the court had another matter to deal with. 

The children of some of the accused persons have since been placed in State care.

-Barbara Gayle

Follow The Gleaner on X 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.