Reverend Al Miller - file photo
Reverend Merrick 'Al' Miller has been found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice. The pastor of Fellowship Tabernacle Church in St. Andrew, was charged after he was intercepted transporting, then fugitive, Christopher Dudus Coke along Nelson Mandela Highway in St. Catherine in June 2010.
Coke had been eluding the police in an effort to avoid being extradited to The United States to face drug charges. His capture ended an islandwide manhunt that had resulted in the West Kingston incursion of 2010.
At the trial, Miller testified that he was transporting Coke to the US embassy with the full knowledge of the Police High Command. He denied trying to elude the police.
However, in passing the verdict on Friday, Parish Judge Simone Wolfe Reece said evidence presented at the trial supported a finding of fact that Miller was seeking to evade the local authorities in their quest to arrest Coke.
Miller had been initially charged with harbouring a fugitive and attempting to pervert the course of justice. However, the charge of harbouring a fugitive was dropped shortly after the trial began.
Reverend Miller will return to court on September 15 for sentencing.
RJR News spoke with Jacqueline Samuels Brown, Rev. Miller's attorney, who said the decision had been pending for some time.
"There are several factors which have contributed to the delay. We're happy that it's coming to an end, although we would have preferred a different verdict from the judge," she declared.
She said she will now focus her attention on September, when Mr. Miller will be sentenced.
.jpg)
All feeds
