For the second time in less than a month, a trial into the murder of Rubis accountant, 27-year-old Jason Cort, has been aborted. On remand for the June 17, 2015 murder are Clifton Gibson, Linton Eastman and Stancey Rodney. This morning, Trial Judge Brassington Reynolds moved to abort the trial after it was reported to him that a relative of one of the murder accused was seen waving to the jury forewoman, whom she was familiar with. Following the report, Justice Reynolds conducted and inquiry and at its conclusion ruled it was best to abort the trial in the interest of justice.
The three murder accused were scheduled to go on trial from January 15, 2020. However, that morning the judge and lawyers for the three murder accused were locked away in the judge’s chambers for more than an hour. When the parties emerged, the judge disclosed that he was forced to conduct an inquiry into a report made by a witness in the matter. The judge said that the witness made a complaint about overhearing a conversation at the courthouse on Monday (January 13, 2020).
Upon examining the nature of the conversation, Justice Reynolds said that there is a possibility it could lead to the trial having a prejudicial outcome. In the interest of justice and fairness to the prosecution and defense, the judge informed the court that he would discontinue/abort the trial. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the three murder accused have been further remanded to prison. It is unclear when they will be brought to court for trial.
It was on June 17, 2015, that Cort, an accounts executive was shot by gunmen at his Lot 262 Jamoon Drive, Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown home. Cort had just arrived home with his fiancée, Shauna Garraway. The father of one was shot to his chest and died at a private hospital. As for the gunmen, they made off with Cort’s cell phone, gold band, chain, ring and an X Box console as well as his firearm. Following a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, Gibson, Eastman and Rodney, were on February 21, 2017 committed to stand trial at the High Court for Cort’s murder.
