Attorneys testify at murder retrial

ATTORNEYSRonald Marks and Jomo Thomas were among four persons who testified for the defense in the double murder retrial involving the May 4, 2017 shooting death of Police Constable Danroy Cozier, 25, and his brother Nicholas Cozier, 19.

Schemel ‘Jacket’ Dunbar and Kendine ‘Hoody’ Douglas, both of Rillan Hill, are jointly charged with the brothers’ murder.

Both Dunbar and Douglas opted not to give evidence from the dock after the Crown closed its case on Monday.

Attorney Carl Williams who is representing Dunbar indicated his intention to call an alibi witness, but that did not materialize and on Tuesday, attorney Grant Connell, who represented Douglas, called Thomas and Marks to testify.

Thomas was the lawyer initially contacted to represent Douglas and sat in the first electronic interview the police conducted with Douglas six years ago after which Thomas discontinued his representation.

Marks had represented Richard Francis, a former police officer attached to the local coast guard, who had been jointly charged with Dunbar and Douglas for the brothers’ murder.

Francis pleaded guilty during the first trial, resulting in Justice Brian Cottle discharging the Jury and ordering that Dunbar and Douglas be tried before a fresh Jury. Francis will be sentenced at a date to be fixed.

The other witnesses Connell called on Tuesday were Douglas’ mother Jennifer Douglas, and Dr. Nadja Peters. He had also asked the Court to summon Dr. Alitha Hull but she was out of state. Peters and Hull are both employees at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and Connell was seeking to obtain certain information regarding Douglas, who had to be taken to the hospital while in police custody in connection with this matter.

After the defense closed its case on Wednesday, the Court heard closing arguments from attorney for the Crown, Richie Maitland, and Dunbar’s lawyer, Carl Williams.

Connell started his closing arguments on Wednesday and was expected to continue yesterday (Thursday) at 1 p.m. This is expected to be followed by Justice Brian Cottle’s summation, then the Jury’s deliberation.

The Crown called some 45 witnesses, including several police officers, an anonymous witness who testified via video link from an undisclosed location, and the lead investigator, Inspector Atland Browne.

DNA evidence was also taken from two overseas-based experts.

The case for the Crown is led by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Sejilla McDowall, assisted by Crown Counsels Renee Simmons and Rose Ann Richardson, and attorney Maitland.

The bodies of Danroy and Nicholas were discovered at Sion Hill Bay close to 1pm on May 4, 2017.

Autopsies showed they died from bullet wounds to the head.

The Judge added that the incident was motivated by reason of suspected infidelity. He found no mitigating factors for the offense or the offender.

In relation to the aggravating factors for the offender, Cottle noted that Thomas had several previous convictions for drugs and two for wounding with a cutlass.

He concluded that the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating, and moved up by three years bringing the sentence to 21 years. Thomas, however, benefited from a one-third discount for his early guilty plea, in addition to having the ten months, and 26 days spent on remand deducted, resulting in the final sentence of 13 years, one month, and 4 days for wounding with intent.

He pointed out that Harry received multiple chops, some while running away. He no longer has the full use of his right hand, and the scars from the chops are still on his shoulders.

In outlining the aggravating factors, the Judge noted

In relation to the lesser charge of unlawful wounding which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison, Cottle noted that the injuries inflicted were in the less serious category. He started at six years and four months, but after doing the necessary calculations, he arrived at the final sentence of four years, one month, and four days, to run concurrently with the other sentence.