Cop freed of 2013 murder

One of two police officers who was charged with murder following the shooting death of Montego Bay resident Dujean Robinson, was freed in the St James Circuit Court last week, following a ruling from the director of public prosecutions (DPP).

Constable Meseck Palmer, who was charged alongside Constable Surano Bird, got the notification of acquittal from High Court Justice Judith Pusey, after the court received the DPP's instruction that the charge against Palmer should be dropped. Palmer, who was represented by attorney Martyn Thomas, was subsequently pleaded and the prosecution made a no-evidence motion in relation to his case.

Meanwhile, the case against Bird, who is represented by King's Counsel Peter Champagnie, is still under review by the DPP. His case will return for mention on July 6.

The allegations are that on November 7, 2013, Robinson was shot dead by members of a police team who were conducting an operation in Mount Salem, Montego Bay, St James. However, an eyewitness later claimed that Robinson was held and then fatally shot by the cops, and that Robinson was unarmed.

Subsequent investigations by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) led to Palmer and Bird being arrested and charged with murder.

At the time of the officers' arrest and charge, it was believed that INDECOM could initiate proceedings against police officers without a ruling from the DPP, which resulted in both accused being charged and placed before the courts without a comprehensive review of the evidence against them.