Hurricane delays testimony in Montego Bay Qahal Yahweh case
Published:Tuesday | December 2, 2025 | 12:10 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The ongoing trial of 16 members of the Montego Bay-based Qahal Yahweh religious group has been rescheduled for continuation in the St James Parish Court on January 16, 2026, as the investigating officer – the prosecution’s intended final witness – was absent from court on Thursday, November 20.
When the matter was mentioned before presiding judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce, it was disclosed that the officer, who was absent from court on two previous occasions, could not attend the sitting as he had been impacted by the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
As a result, the 16 defendants – Christopher Anderson, Omar Thompson, Jevaughn Thompson, Nekeisha Harding, Derrick Clarke, Roanalee Maitland, Alicia Meadley, Fabian Nelson, Franchain Paris, Jodian Spence, Jose Foskin, Oral Spence, Rayon Letman, Ingrid Williams, Vera Woolery, and Melisha Thompson – had their bails extended to January 16, when the matter will resume.
All of the defendants are represented by King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, who is expected to make a no-case submission on their behalf once the investigating officer’s testimony is completed.
Since the defendants’ trial began on April 8, 2024, the St James Parish Court has heard evidence from five prosecution witnesses, including a former member of the Qahal Yahweh group, three officers from the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, and an assistant registrar at the Ministry of Education’s Independent Schools Branch.
The investigating officer in the case is expected to be the sixth and final witness to present evidence for the prosecution, in relation to the identification of the accused persons.
The officer was originally scheduled to testify on June 13 this year, but was absent on that day due to illness. His date to give evidence was rescheduled to July 30, but the matter was further adjourned to November 20 after it was disclosed that he had several medical appointments scheduled.
The defendants were arrested and charged following two police raids at the religious group’s compound in the Paradise, Norwood section of St James on June 7 and June 30, 2023.
During the June 7, 2023 operation, 23 children – ages one to 17 years at the time – were removed from the premises and placed in state care. The follow-up operation on June 30 that year led to the defendants being arrested and charged.
The Qahal Yahweh group previously came into the spotlight in 2019 when the police removed six children, including a pregnant 16-year-old, from the compound. The church was under investigation at that time in relation to allegations that the group was conducting child marriages, as well as reportedly involved in human trafficking, abduction, child abuse and sexual assault.