Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

A seven-member jury has found that 31-year-old security guard Jeffrey Perry, who allegedly murdered three children at Kilancholly, St. Mary, in January 2005, is fit to plead.

A lawyer is to be assigned to represent Perry at his trial later this year in the Home Circuit Court.

After the jury handed down its verdict yesterday, defence lawyers Linton Gordon and Carlene McFarlane sought permission from Justice Kay Beckford to withdraw from the case.

Mr. Gordon said it was because they had problems getting instructions from Perry that they had brought the application for the jury to determine if he could face trial. The judge granted the application for them to withdraw.

When Perry was questioned by the judge as to whether he could afford a lawyer to represent him, Perry said "No". The judge ordered that a lawyer be assigned to represent him.

Perry was remanded to return to the Home Circuit Court on February 2.

Psychiatrists Terrence Bernard and Arlene McGill testified for the Crown at the hearing which began on Monday that they had examined Perry and found he was fit to plead.

Dissenting viewpoint

On the other hand, psychiatrist Dr. Herbert Wieder testified for the defence and said he found that Perry suffered from hallucinations and delusions and was not fit to plead.

Acting Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Lisa Palmer, in her address to the jury, reminded them that Dr. Wieder had said an individual who was mentally ill could still stand trial.

The Crown is alleging that Perry, who is a cousin of the children, fatally stabbed them on January 28, 2005. The deceased are 15-year-old Dwane Davidson, 13-year-old Sue Ann Gordon and four-year-old Shadice Williams.