Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

The three policemen who are charged with the murder of reputed gunman, 25-year-old Noel Barnes, of Bull Bay, St. Andrew, will have to face a retrial.

A 12-member jury retired yesterday for four hours and failed to arrive at a unanimous verdict.

Residents of Bull Bay, St. Andrew, who attended the trial daily to support the accused policemen expressed disapproval at the outcome of the case. Policemen also turned out in large numbers at the Home Circuit Court to support their colleagues.

The policemen are Constables Lerone Witter and Kirk Nunes, and District Constable Ukent Edwards. They were represented by attorneys-at-law George Soutar and Tom Tavares-Finson.

No unanimous verdict

The 12-member jury first retired for three hours and returned saying they had not reached a unanimous verdict. Miss Justice Gloria Smith asked them whether she could assist them any further and they said they needed further assistance on "self-defence and excessive force".

They were given directions, but they returned an hour later saying that they still had not arrived at a verdict. Justice Smith then extended the bail of the three men and ordered them to return to the Home Circuit Court on April 11.

Evidence was given at the trial which began last week Monday that on the night of August 27, 1999, Barnes was shot dead in bushes at Bito district, near Bull Bay.

Acting Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Lisa Palmer, in opening the case to the jury told them tha Barnes was wanted for various offences, he deserved a fair trial. The Crown alleged that Barnes was shot several times in cold blood.

The policemen, in unsworn statements from the dock, said they acted in self-defence.