The murder trial for 51-year-old Andrea Lowe Garwood hangs in the balance as the Crown requested the testimony of the hitman in order to proceed.
DUNCANS, Trelawny — There is uncertainty over whether the murder trial stemming from the church pew-slaying of a banker will be able to proceed on Thursday as the Crown waits to hear whether the convicted hitman will testify for the prosecution. Up to Wednesday afternoon, the prosecutor was still waiting for word on whether Dwight “Prince” Bingham will take the stand.
“When we commenced the trial, Mr Bingham pleaded guilty. We had been speaking to counsel who appeared for Bingham before the arraignment. Since the guilty plea we have continued to do so because we remain hopeful. And we wanted to get to a place… and quite frankly, we are not at that place now,” said the prosecutor.
“I made a request to [Bingham’s] counsel and counsel has indicated that he will get back to me this [Wednesday] afternoon. It is with that in mind — to borrow a phrase from you, My Lord — come tomorrow it will be eggs or young ones’,” the prosecutor added.
Last Monday Bingham pleaded guilty to pumping four shots into 51-year-old Andrea Lowe Garwood as she worshipped inside the Agape Christian Fellowship Church in Falmouth, Trelawny on Sunday, January 31, 2021.
He will be sentenced on July 25.
Bingham’s testimony is now vital to the case against Lowe Garwood’s stepson, Javan ‘Janoy’ Garwood, who has been accused of paying for the hit. He has pleaded not guilty to murder and accessory to murder before the fact.
On Wednesday the court heard evidence from Lowe Garwood’s son, Andre Williams, who identified her body at the funeral home. Testimony was also provided by Corporal Alwyn Robinson who was part of the team that first arrived at the murder scene.
Robinson told the court that when he arrived at the church he saw Lowe Garwood on the floor, four spent shells close to her body. He also said two individuals at the scene gave him two cellular phones. In earlier trials, testimony was presented that the shooter’s cellphone fell from him and was abandoned at the scene.
“About 10:37 am I saw a crowd gathered at the Agape Christian Fellowship Church. Persons were there signalling us to stop. The driver immediately stopped and I alighted in a technical manner. In entering the church I saw the lady lying on her back, clad in a purple dress,” Robinson told the court under oath.
Also on Wednesday, 23-year-old Leon Hines continued with his second day of testimony. In March 2021, he admitted that he was the getaway driver at the time of the shooting that sent churchgoers scurrying for cover. He has been sentenced to six years in prison. This, after he turned Crown witness and agreed to provide evidence against both his co-accused.
Garwood, who is being represented by attorneys-at-law Khadine Coleman and Lorenzo Eccleston, is to return to court on Thursday for the continuation of his trial. The matter is being presided over by Chief Justice Bryan Sykes.
A seven-member jury has been empanelled.
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