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The families of two policemen got unexpected early Christmas presents when the two, who were convicted for the 2009 killing of a Central Kingston man, were granted bail on Tuesday by the Court of Appeal.
Constables Gareth Davis and Christobel Smith, who were attached to the now disbanded Mobile Reserve unit, were convicted in November 2019 for the killing of Omar Marshall.
The court heard that the deceased was shot nine times
On January 7 this year, Davis, who was found guilty of murder, was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 15 years, while Smith, who was convicted of manslaughter, was sentenced to a term of six years and 10 months.
Stringent reporting conditions were imposed by the court pending the hearing of the substantive appeal - File photo.
The Court of Appeal yesterday granted $1 million bail each to two policemen convicted of a fatal shooting. As part of their bail, stringent reporting conditions were imposed pending the hearing of the substantive appeal filed by Constable Christobel Smith and Gareth Davis. In making the bail application, their lawyers argued that the trial judge had failed to properly direct the jury on the issue of self defence. Smith was represented by Queen’s Counsel Caroline Reid-Cameron while Davis was represented by Queen’s Counsel Peter Champagnie and Kemar Robinson.
12:47 pm, Wed December 23, 2020
Two police constables who were sentenced for the 2008 fatal shooting of Omar Marshall, were on Tuesday offered bail by the Appeal Court.
Gareth Davis and Christobel Smith, who began serving time in January, were each offered bail in the sum of $1 million, pending their appeals.
President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Patrick Brooks, granted bail following an application by Queens Counsels Carolyn Reid-Cameron and Peter Champagnie who are challenging the sentence handed down against the policemen on November 14, 2019.
The cops were convicted of killing Mr. Marshall during a police operation on Blake Road in Kingston.