Judge questions ID evidence in larceny case

Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell has questioned the process by which a man was identified as a suspect in a case of larceny after he offered evidence that he was nowhere near the alleged crime.

Prosecutors handling the case against Sajae Bishop, who has been before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court for the past year, revealed that he was identified 15 days after the alleged robbery. It is alleged that on May 28, 2023, the complainant was walking along the roadway in the vicinity of Herb McKenley Drive and the Bob Marley statue after leaving a party at the National Stadium at 2:40 a.m. The court heard that the complainant was on her cell phone when a man, of brown complexion and slim build, walked up from behind, grabbed her cell phone and ran. About 15 days later, Bishop was pointed out as the robber and was charged with larceny from the person.

But Bishop said that on the day of the robbery, he was at his home in St Ann, celebrating his birthday.

"The day of the robbery, I have videos and pictures of myself in Ocho Rios. It was my birthday. Your Honour, I wasn't placed on an [ID] identification parade and it's the first time I am seeing this woman. I am not from Kingston, I am from St Ann and when I was arrested and placed in custody, it was my second time coming to town," Bishop told the senior jurist.

"Look at social media saving this man's life. So the police just lock up this man and did not place him on ID parade? Your identification evidence is woefully inadequate," Burrell cautioned the prosecutors.

"The man looks like any average Jamaican. There's nothing special about him. You see how easy it is to get arrested without more [evidence]? The man was pointed out 15 days after later. Oh my gosh, this is scary," the senior jurist said.

The matter was adjourned until December 19 for the completion of the file. Burrell also issued a subpoena for the inspector of the Matilda's Corner Police Station to attend court on the next date.