(Jamaica Gleaner) Alleged leader of the Montego Bay-based Stone Crusher gang, Eldon Calvert, who had been in custody for four years on a triple-murder charge, has been freed because of the alleged fabrication of evidence.
He was freed along with Orrete Grant with whom he was jointly charged and Michael Heron who was facing one count of murder.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn, QC, said she was entering a conditional nolle prosequi (no prosecution) because the variance in the opinions of the handwriting experts would undermine the substratum of the Crown’s case.
Llewellyn said she could only proceed with the case if the witnesses were available.
Concerns were raised about the charges against the men because of the fact that Detective Sergeant Michael Sirjue was the investigator in the case.
fabricating evidence
Sirjue is accused of fabricating evidence in another murder case against Calvert and other men which led to their acquittal earlier this year in the Home Circuit Court.
The men have no other charges pending against them, so they were processed and released yesterday.
In the meantime, the defence lawyers, Carl Miller, Chumu Paris and Tamika Spencer, who were at court yesterday said the DPP should have withdrawn the charges. They said the conditional nolle prosequi meant that the if witnesses were found, then the case could be brought back. The lawyers said the men’s future was now put on hold.
