Police witness’ absence pushes Qahal Yahweh trial to July 29

WESTERN BUREAU:

The ongoing trial of 16 members of the controversial Qahal Yahweh religious organisation, for breaches of the Child Care and Protection Act and the Education Act, has been put off for continuation on July 29 because of the absence of the prosecution’s anticipated final witness on Friday.

The witness in question, who is the investigating officer in the case, was expected to appear in the St James Parish Court on Friday to testify in the trial of 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.

However, when the matter was called up before presiding trial judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce, the clerk of the court revealed that the officer was absent from court because of illness.

Following that update and additional discussions, Grant-Pryce set the trial for continuation on July 29 with the matter being expected to roll over into July 30 as well.

“The investigating officer, I suspect, is the last witness for the Crown, and they have indicated to me this morning that the investigating officer is unwell, and we can all appreciate ‘unwell’. With that, the matter is adjourned for another date and, on that date, I expect that all of you will be here and present … your bails are extended for you to return to this court on July 29 for continuation of this matter,” Grant-Pryce addressed the defendants before allowing them to leave the courtroom.

FRESH SUBPOENA

The court also ordered a fresh subpoena for the investigating officer to attend court on July 29, after having issued one for him when the trial was last held on May 16.

The 16 Qahal Yahweh members, who are all represented by King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, were arrested and charged following a police raid at the Qahal Yahweh compound in Paradise, Norwood, St James on June 30, 2023. That raid was a follow-up to an earlier operation on June 7, 2023, in which 23 children, ages one to 17 years at the time, were removed from the compound.

Since the start of the 16 defendants’ trial on April 8, 2024, the court has heard evidence from at least five prosecution witnesses, to include a former member of the Qahal Yahweh group, three officers from the Child Protection and Family Services Agency [CPFSA], and an assistant registrar at the Ministry of Education’s Independent Schools Branch.

The Qahal Yahweh group was previously thrust into the spotlight in 2019 when the police removed six children, including a pregnant 16-year-old, from the compound. At that time, the church was under investigation concerning allegations that the group was conducting child marriages, as well as being involved in human trafficking, abduction, child abuse and sexual assault.