Qahal Yahweh trial stalled yesterday, to resume today
Published:Wednesday | July 30, 2025 | 12:11 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
With yesterday's absence of the defendants’ lawyer, King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, the ongoing trial of the 16 members of the Montego Bay-based Qahal Yahweh religious group, who are charged with breaches of both the Child Care and Protection Act and the Education Act, has been rescheduled to continue today.
Yesterday the court, which is being presided over by parish judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce, was told that Champagnie had sent a note to say he would be absent.
“Mr Champagnie sent word that he is unavailable for today (Tuesday), but we will continue tomorrow (Wednesday). This matter was set for two days, today and tomorrow, but your lawyer is not here today,” Grant-Pryce told the defendants. "Speak to your lawyer, as your lawyer will advise you what will happen. As far as I am concerned, this matter returns to court tomorrow, July 30, 2025."
The 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, all had their bails extended yesterday until today by Grant-Pryce.
When the trial resumes today, it is expected that the prosecution’s intended final witness, the investigating officer in the case, will take the witness stand. The officer was absent from the trial’s previous sitting on June 13 due to illness.
To date, the court has heard evidence from five prosecution witnesses since the defendants’ trial began on April 8, 2024. The witnesses who have testified so far include 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 Qahal Yahweh members were arrested and charged following two raids carried out at the group’s compound in Paradise, Norwood, St James, by the police on June 7 and June 30 in 2023.
During the June 7 operation, 23 children, ages one to 17 years, were removed from the premises and placed in state care. In the follow-up raid on June 30, the 16 defendants were arrested and charged.
The Qahal Yahweh group first came to national attention in 2019 when the police removed six children, including a pregnant 16-year-old, from the compound. At the time, the church was under investigation in relation to allegations that the group was conducting child marriages, as well as being involved in human trafficking, abduction, child abuse and sexual assault.