The trial into the murder of Rubis accountant, 27-year-old Jason Cort, has been aborted for the second time in one month.
Clifton Gibson, Linton Eastman and Stancey Rodney are currently on remand for the murder.
Jason Cort
When the matter was called before Judge Brassington Reynolds on Friday at the High Court, it was reported to him that a relative of one of the accused is known to the jury forewoman.
Further, it was disclosed that before the commencement of the proceedings, the relative was seen waving her hand to the forewoman.
As a result, Justice Reynolds ruled that it was best to abort the trial.
The three murder accused were scheduled to go on trial from January 15, 2020. However, that morning, the Judge and lawyers were locked away in the Judge’s chambers for more than an hour.
When the parties emerged, the Judge disclosed that he was forced to conduct an inquiry into a report made by a witness in the matter. The Judge said that the witness made a complaint about overhearing a conversation at the courthouse on Monday, January 13, 2020.
Upon examining the nature of the conversation, Justice Reynolds said that there is a possibility that it could lead to the trial having a prejudicial outcome. In the interest of justice and fairness to the prosecution and defence, the Judge informed the court that he would discontinue/abort the trial. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the three murder accused have been further remanded to prison. It is unclear when they will be brought to court for trial.
Jason Cort, a senior employee attached to Rubis Guyana Inc, was gunned down in July of last year, at his Lot 262 Jamoon Drive, Meadowbrook home.
Cort was fatally shot to the chest shortly after entering his premises with fiancé, Shauna Garraway. He was rushed to Dr Balwant Singh Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.
Several persons had related that upon hearing the loud explosion and looking outside, they observed persons scaling the fence of Cort’s home and making good their escape up the road.
Following the shooting, the three men were arrested and charged for the offence.
