By Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter 
THE BRAETON murder trial took a dramatic turn yesterday when warrants of arrest were issued for two civilian witnesses who failed to attend court.
The court was forced to take an early adjournment in order for the police to find the two Crown witnesses and take them to court today.
Paula Llewellyn, senior deputy director of public prosecutions, told the court that on December 17 last year subpoenas were served on the two witnesses to attend court on January 17 when the trial commenced.
WITNESSES SPOTTED
Ms. Llewellyn said two Sundays ago, she spoke to one of the witnesses. She said she saw the other witness in the precincts of the court on either January 19 or 20. She said persons from her department had also spoken to that witness. She added that their testimony was important to the Crown's case.
After enquiring if there were addresses for the witnesses, Mr. Justice Donald McIntosh issued warrants of arrest for them.
The judge instructed Assistant Commissioner of Police Keith 'Trinity' Gardner to get trusted policemen to take the witnesses into custody.
In adjourning the case, the judge issued the usual warning for the 12-member jury not to discuss the case with anyone who was not a member of the jury.
SIX POLICEMEN ON TRIAL
Six policemen have been on trial since January 17 this year for the murder of seven young men who were fatally shot on March 14, 2001. The deceased were killed in a house at 1088 Fifth Seal Way, Braeton, St. Catherine.
The Crown is alleging that the policemen were not acting in lawful self-defence when the men were shot dead.
However, the first two Crown witnesses called to testify said that they were members of the police party which went to the premises. They said men from inside the house fired first at them and they returned the fire. They said four firearms were recovered from the house, one of which belonged to police constable Dwight Gibson who was murdered at the Above Rocks Police Station, St. Catherine on March 1, 2001.
