Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

The trial of the three policemen involved in the 1999 killing of Noel Barnes, reputed gunman of Bull Bay, St. Andrew, is slated to begin early next year. The police, however, have expressed concern about their failure to locate two witnesses.

Gerald Jones and Lorraine Thomas have been eluding the police for some time now even though Inspector Anthony White of the Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI) believes them to be of great importance to the case.

"We have tried almost every avenue and we have been unable to find them ... and we know for sure that they are not dead," Inspector White said. He added that checks have been made with the Registrar General's Department.

The policemen facing the murder charge are Constable Lerone Witter, District Constable Ukent Edwards and Constable Kirk Nunes. Mr. Jones, a security guard at the time, had accompanied the three to the Bito Hills in Bull Bay where they killed Barnes.

Barnes had 'reigned' for over a year in the Bull Bay area of St. Andrew and sections of St. Thomas and was atop the police's most wanted list. Police reports say Mr. Jones had shot and injured Barnes in the hills earlier in the day and later led the police to find him when he was killed. Ms. Thomas, who bore a child for Barnes, identified his body at the morgue but since the ruling by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Kent Pantry, Q.C., that the policemen should stand trial for murder, these witnesses have vanished.

Ms. Thomas had a Vineyard Town, Kingston, address and Mr. Jones, a Harbour View address, east Kingston.

"They are in the country but we can't find them," Inspector White said.

The police are asking Ms. Thomas and Mr. Jones or persons knowing their whereabouts to contact the BSI at 922-6321 or the nearest police station.