Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

A jury deliberated for four hours Thursday before freeing Constable Everald Robinson of the murder of 27-year-old Kevin Dixon, also called 'Stone God', of Boone Hall, St Andrew.

Dixon was fatally shot on June 18, 2004 in Boone Hall.

Howard Hamilton, QC, and attorney-at-law Candis Hamilton-Craig represented Robinson and, in addressing the jury, referred to numerous discrepancies in the evidence given by the eyewitnesses.

The Crown alleged that Dixon was running away from the policeman when he was shot twice. The deceased received gunshot wounds to the buttocks and to the back of one of his legs.

One witness testified that he saw the accused fire two shots while he was chasing the deceased. The witness said that after the deceased fell, the accused handcuffed him and then fired a third shot.

Another witness testified that the accused fired three shots before the deceased fell. The accused then left for a short while and, on his return, he handcuffed the deceased who was still on the ground.

Self defence

In an unsworn statement, Robinson said there was a warrant for Dixon's arrest for wounding and when he saw him at Boone Hall and went to apprehend him, Dixon resisted violently and he and Dixon fell to the ground. Dixon pulled a knife and was about to stab him. He said, out of fear for his life, he fired three shots.

Superintendent Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight, in giving character evidence, said that Robinson was very hard-working and dedicated. He said Robinson had received commendations and a medal of honour in the line of duty.

Robinson also called a psychiatrist who testified that Dixon used to be a patient at the Bellevue Hospital.

Senior Puisne Judge Marva McIntosh presided at the two-week trial in the Home Circuit Court.