Supreme Court Judge Kay Beckford has warned that it is only in exceptional circumstances or if the Crown's case is very weak that accused persons will be granted bail.

The judge issued the warning yesterday in the Home Circuit Court when she revoked the bail of three accused in two separate incidents.

Accused Bryan Rumble and Jahve Robinson, of Annotto Bay, St. Mary, had their bail revoked following allegations that Crown witnesses were being threatened.

Rumble and Robinson are charged jointly with Roderick Williams, Negarth Williams and Kashf Richards for the murder of 24-year-old Damion Green.

Trial put off

Jurors turned out in large numbers yesterday but the trial, which was set to start yesterday, had to be put off until tomorrow because attorney-at-law Michael Lorne, who is representing the five men, was absent.

Several efforts were made to contact Mr. Lorne and the judge wondered what could have happened to him.

"I know he is a bit long-winded but I have never known him to be disrespectful," Miss Justice Beckford said.

Green was fatally shot in a cookshop at Top Bay, St. Mary, on September 5, 2003.

In the other murder case, Jeffrey Lyons, of Clifton, St. Catherine, whose trial was set for yesterday also had his bail revoked. He is to return to court on Friday.

Legal representation is to be settled in his case as defence lawyer Tom Tavares Finson told the court that he was granted permission last year to withdraw from the case.

The judge queried why another lawyer was not assigned, but was subsequently informed that Lyons was interviewed and recommendations were made for another lawyer to be assigned to the case.

Lyons is charged with the murder of 20-year-old Quinton Williams, also called Everald. Williams was fatally shot on December 18, 2002.