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By Clinton McGregor
Two members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force who were charged eight years ago for the 2013 execution-style killing of a man in Central Village, St. Catherine, were freed today before the St. Catherine Circuit Court.
Detective Constable Ricardo Johnson and Constable David Williams were freed of the February 10, 2013 murder of David Suckoo in Big Lane, Central Village.
The policemen were charged in 2017 following an investigation by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) into the controversial killing.
Prosecutors had led evidence that on the day in question, Mr. Suckoo was shot by the policemen and a firearm placed on him at his home in Big Lane, Central Village.
This was based on an eyewitness statement from a relative who claimed he saw the killing.
The relative claimed he heard explosions shortly after Mr. Suckoo went outside the dwelling to brush his teeth on the morning in question.
The relative alleged that he witnessed the policemen standing over Mr. Suckoo and pumping bullets into his body.
He added that he saw them placing an object into Mr. Suckoo's hand and firing two rounds.
But at the scheduled trial today, defence attorneys Christopher Townsend, Chadwick Berry and John Paul Hamilton strongly challenged an application by the prosecutors to hear the matter via paper trial because the witnesses could not be located.
Mr. Townsend argued that the policemen would be denied the right to confront the witness on his eyewitness statement.
He further argued that the prosecution was well aware that the witnesses could not be located, and was abusing the process by attempting to try the policemen via a paper trial.
He also pointed to the eight-year wait for the policemen to go on trial.
Following the submissions, the Crown agreed and Justice Bertram Morrison entered a verdict of not guilty against the policemen.
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