The incident took place at the boat factory at Spanish Town Road, St Andrew.

Constables Rohan Blackwood, Sylford Williams and Milton Elliston are charged with the murder. The Crown, represented by Caroline Hay, deputy director of public prosecutions, and Sharon Millwood-Moore, is alleging that on June 8, 2001, Williams was allegedly beaten by the policemen and then shot in the chest.Rose Morris testified that she knew the three accused before the incident. She said Williams was called 'Bobby Reds' and Elliston was called 'Benjie'.

Beating Richard

She said on June 8, 2001, Constable Williams came to the premises and stood by the factory gate. The other two policemen entered the factory and began beating the deceased.

She said Daphne Miller, Richard's mother, went to where the policemen were beating Richard Williams. She said about five policemen were in the area where the beating was taking place. One of the policemen came to where she was and showed her a handgun, which he said was taken from the deceased. The owner of the premises told the policemen that if they had found a gun on the deceased they should "carry him in".

Morris said Blackwood walked to where she and another woman were standing. He took the handgun from the policeman and fired a shot in her direction and it lodged in a wall.

Handgun

She said at one stage the deceased's mother was lying on top of the deceased. A policeman dragged the mother off the deceased and Blackwood used the handgun to shoot him. Cross-examined by Norma Linton, QC, the witness admitted that in the statements she gave to the police on June 12, 2001, she did not say that Blackwood shot the deceased.

Justice Kay Beckford is presiding over the trial in the Home Circuit Court.