ANDEM

The murder trial of 43-year-old reputed gang leader Joel Andem and his two co-accused has been set for March 16 in the Home Circuit Court. Andem was not taken to court on Monday because no Jamaica Defence Force escort was detailed to take him.

They are charged with the murder of 48-year-old gas station operator Sylvia Edwards.

The other two accused are 44-year-old businessman Rupert Wallace, of Garveymeade, Portmore, St. Catherine, and 24-year-old Rohan Masters, of 66 Luke Lane, Kingston.

Mrs. Edwards, who lived in Plantation Heights, St. Andrew, was kidnapped along Red Hills Road, St. Andrew, in July 2000.

When a demand for a ransom of $200,000 was not met, she was shot dead and buried in a shallow grave in Constitution Hill, St. Andrew.

Andem was on the police most wanted list for four years until he was captured in Clarksonville, St. Ann, in May last year.