Quancy John, the policeman accused of shooting a Patentia student to death in 2010, had his trial aborted on Tuesday after a member of the jury admitted that he and John’s brother went to school together.
The murder trial was aborted by Justice Franklyn Holder in the High Court after conducting an inquiry with John and his lawyer Glenn Hanoman and State Attorney Diana Kaulesar in his chambers.
Justice Holder later told the court that he had decided to abort the trial because a member of the jury had admitted to knowing the accused. The juror had brought this to the attention of Holder’s registrar during the trial.
Another set of jurors is expected to be empanelled on Monday to hear the matter.
John was committed to stand trial in 2012 by Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Wales Magistrate’s Court.
John, 32, of 325 Kuru Kuru, Linden-Soesdyke Highway was charged with the murder of 16-year-old Kelvin Fraser. Fraser was allegedly shot and killed by the rank while he was reportedly fleeing police officers who had gone to the Patentia Secondary School following complaints of young men interfering with girls at the schools.
John was charged after weeks of public outcry and protests by secondary school students in front of the Wales Police Station.
An autopsy revealed that Fraser died of shock and haemorrhage from laceration of the lungs caused by gunshot injuries. The teenager was shot in the left side of his chest at close range and several pellets were retrieved from his body.
