Barbara Gayle murder trial moved to Home Circuit Court

The case of Travis Ellis, accused murderer of veteran journalist Barbara Gayle, is to be transferred to the Home Circuit Court in Kingston.

The accused killer's attorneys have also been confirmed to be Donahue Martin and King's Counsel Tom Tavares-Finson. 

The 24-year-old has been charged with the December killing of the 77-year-old retired Gleaner journalist at her home in the gated community of Caymanas Estate in Greater Portmore, St Catherine 

Ellis was due to make his first appearance in court in St Catherine on Tuesday. 

However Martin says the defence was advised that the matter is to be moved from the St Catherine Parish Court to the Home Circuit Court.

That move is based on a voluntary bill of indictment tendered by the Director of Public Prosecutions. It means the case will bypass the committal proceedings in the parish court and allows for the matter to move faster. 

"It is not usual for this to happen," Martin told The Gleaner on Tuesday. 

Martin confirmed that he and Tavares-Finson King are representing Ellis. 

The St Catherine South police charged Ellis with murder and robbery with aggravation on December 24.

Gayle's body was found with multiple stab wounds about 11:00 a.m. on December 17, the police said. 

A day later, Gayle's Mercedes-Benz  motor car, which was missing from her home, was found in the vicinity of Dyke Road in Gregory Park, Portmore. Ellis was arrested hours later in the Grange Lane community.

Ellis, who hails from 'Gulf' in Gregory Park, reportedly gave the police a caution statement about his alleged role in the incident.

The murder of Gayle, a beloved and widely respected court reporter, shocked the nation.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness was among senior national figures who paid tribute to Gayle for her more than 56 years in journalism. 

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