By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
THE expected start of a murder trial into the fatal shooting of businessman Kurt McCartney in Gambier Village did not happen yesterday due to insufficient jurors for the empanelling process.
Lyndera Curry, 21, Sumya Ingraham, 26, Thorne Edwards, 23, and Okell Farrington, 31, have been in the state’s custody since November 2013 awaiting trial concerning the killing.
McCartney, a businessman, is the brother of Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Branville McCartney.
The victim’s Hummer was discovered by police in an area east of Traveller’s Rest, just a few hours after his death.
After three delays in the start of the case, the four charged with McCartney’s murder and armed robbery appeared before Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs yesterday with a fifth man, 42-year-old Terry Delancy, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact.
However, the matter could not begin because there were not enough jurors for the empanelling process.
Last year’s amendment to the Juries Act saw the shortening of the maximum period of jury service from three months to two months.
The amendment, which the government said would improve the efficiency of criminal trials, was also meant to expand the jury pool by including Family Island residents. A full complement of 48 jurors is required for the jury selection process in a criminal case.
However, less than two-thirds of that number was present for yesterday’s proceedings.
The matter has been adjourned for today, in hopes that the full complement of jurors will be available.
Ian Cargill is representing Delancy while Sonia Timothy represents Curry.
Ingraham, Edwards and Farrington are respectively represented by Romona Farquharson-Seymour, Terrel Butler and Philip Hilton.
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