BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE first murder trial for the new criminal assizes which was scheduled to begin yesterday (Jan, 27) was postponed, as a request was made for a psychiatrist to review the deposition.
Jahdell Browne of St. Peters was charged with the Sunday, October 25, 2009 murder of John Napier (75) and Sylvester Harris (37) and also the wounding of Wilfred Simmonds (52).
In a police report on the matter, Browne was referred to as “mentally challenged”.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Paulina Hendrickson, told His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas that the prosecution team would like to make an application for psychiatrist Dr. Sharon Halliday to review the deposition. The request was granted and agreed to by the accused defence counsels Dr. Henry Browne and Hesketh Benjamin.
The prosecution team will be led Crown Counsel Rhonda Nisbett-Browne and Dr. Halliday will present her findings on Monday, February 28.
Jahdell Browne had pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on the murder and wounding charges at the last assizes. He allegedly brutally chopped the murder and wounding victims with a machete.
According to a SKNVibes report, police sources informed that Napier was attacked on the premises of his Cedar Grove house, Harris was assaulted while in his garden at Parray’s Housing, Upper Monkey Hill and Simmonds was wounded a short distance from there.
The then Police Press and Public Relations Officer, Inspector Cromwell Henry, confirmed that Napier died at his home and that Harris was transported to the Joseph N. France Hospital, where he subsequently died.
