Barbara Gayle, Staff ReporterA HOME Circuit Court jury has convicted Janet Douglas, 34, fashion designer, of 37 Ziadie Avenue, Ziadie Gardens, St. Andrew, of the murder of her lover's wife.
Mr. Justice Basil Reid has put off
sentencing until June 9.
"There is an abundance of evidence which fully justify this verdict," the judge said after the verdict was handed down.
The Crown led evidence that on November 24, 2003, Douglas who is also known as Edna Arnett murdered Isolyn Gibson-McGill, 32, dressmaker, of Corn Piece District, Hayes, Clarendon. The jury retired at 4:18 p.m. yesterday and returned an hour later with the unanimous verdict.
ELEGANTLY DRESSED
Douglas, who was elegantly dressed in a black sleeveless blouse, black skirt and black slippers, displaying her recently pednicured toes, held down her head when she heard the verdict. A male lawyer described Douglas as the most attractive woman he had ever seen in a prisoner's dock.
The Crown represented by Paula Llewellyn, senior deputy director of public prosecutions and Chester Crooks, Crown Counsel, led evidence at the trial which began on May 11 that Douglas befriended Mrs. McGill because she had a plan to murder her.
STAB WOUNDS
Mrs. McGill's body, with 19 stab wounds, was found on the Hilly Field Road off the Bustamante Highway, Clarendon, on the night of November 24, 2000.
Evidence was given that human blood was found in the car that Douglas was driving on the afternoon when she visited Mrs. McGill at her home. Items which Mrs. McGill purchased at a supermarket in May Pen were also found in Douglas' car.
Douglas and Mrs. McGill's husband, Detective Corporal Glen McGill were involved in a love affair. When Douglas insisted that Det. Corporal McGill tell his wife about the affair, he refused. Douglas then called her and told her about the relationship.
UNSWORN STATEMENT
In an unsworn statement from the dock, Douglas, who was represented by attorneys-at-law Ravil Golding and Tashia McDonald, denied committing the offence.
Douglas has two previous convictions. While she was in custody at the Four Paths Police Station in Clarendon on the murder charge, she escaped from custody. She was subsequently recaptured in Armour Heights, St. Andrew, and was using the name Ashley Chin at the time.
Special Corporal Alli Powell under whose supervision she was at the time of her escape, would later commit suicide. She was convicted of escaping custody and sentenced in August 2001 to 18 months. She was convicted of obtaining money by means of false pretences and was sentenced in April 1997 to nine months imprisonment. She is the mother of six children ranging in age from 18 to six years. Three of the children were adopted.
