By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A WOMAN who maintains she had no involvement in the murder of a web shop employee could be facing the discretionary death penalty if convicted by the Supreme Court jury.
Daphne Knowles, of Cartwright’s, Long Island, was called on to answer to charges of murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery moments before jury selection took place in her trial yesterday concerning the death of Andrea Carroll in November 2014.
Knowles answered “not guilty” to all three allegations before a jury of 10 women and two men who were selected to hear evidence in the matter.
The accused is charged with murder under Section 291 (1) (a) of the Penal Code, Chapter 84, a charge that attracts the discretionary death penalty of the court if a conviction is reached.
In 2011, after a ruling from the London-based Privy Council, the Ingraham administration amended the death penalty law to specify the “worst of the worst” murders that would warrant execution.
Under the amended law, a person who kills a police or defence force officer, member of the Departments of Customs or Immigration, judiciary or prison services would be eligible for a death sentence. A person would also be eligible for death once convicted of murdering someone during a rape, robbery, kidnapping or act of terrorism.
The jury was asked to return to court on Tuesday, May 17, for evidence to be taken.
Knowles is alleged to have killed Carroll between November 28 and 29, 2014. Carroll was found lifeless with a head injury and her hands and feet bound.
It is further alleged that Knowles conspired with others for some 58 days to commit robbery and actually robbed Carroll of cash belonging to Bowe’s Web Games Ltd.
The accused remains remanded to the Department of Correctional Services.
Knowles, who was previously unrepresented up until Monday, is now defended by attorney Sonia Timothy.
Cephia Pinder-Moss and Basil Cumberbatch are prosecuting the case.
Justice Bernard Turner is presiding over the trial.
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