By Nagra Plunkett, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE TRIAL of national footballer Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, who is charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of his former 'Reggae Boy' teammate Stephen 'Shorty' Malcolm, is slated to begin in the Trelawny Circuit Court next Monday.
Whitmore, who was on the roster for last night's friendly international between Jamaica and the United States at the National Stadium, was slapped with the charge last June after a six-member jury in the Trelawny Coroner's Court ruled that he was criminally responsible for Malcolm's death.
Malcolm was killed along the Spring Hill main road in Trelawny on January 28, 2001, when the car in which he, Whitmore and Charles Ewan were travelling crashed into an embankment and overturned.
Malcolm, who sustained serious head injuries in the accident, died on the spot. The police are contending that Whitmore was behind the wheels of the ill-fated Mark II, registered 8170BX, when it crashed. However, the footballer is contending that Malcolm was the driver.
The trial was originally set for last November's sitting of the Circuit Court but was subsequently changed to this month's sitting when defence attorney George Thomas, who is representing Whitmore, asked for an adjournment. The attorney made the request to presiding judge, Justice Lennox Campbell, claiming he wants to properly prepare for the trial.
Mr. Thomas explained to the court that he had not received some documents that should have been delivered to him. He also said that he was not in possession of the police statements in the matter and added that the depositions were only given to him prior to the start of court.
Justice Campbell subsequently postponed the matter and extended Whitmore's $200,000 bail until his next court appearance.
In the coroner's case, which was held in Falmouth courthouse last year, 10 persons testified before the all-female jury, which deliberated for a mere 15 minutes before returning with the verdict that Whitmore was criminally responsible for Malcolm's death.
Following the incident, Sergeant Noel Grant, of the Duncans Police Station, who was early on the scene, claimed that both Whitmore and Ewan told him on his arrival at the accident scene that Whitmore was driving the car at the time of the accident. He said he was "very surprised" when they later changed their statements and said Malcolm was the driver.
