Firearm trial in X6 case postponed until 2012

Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

The firearm trial of Patrick Powell, the businessman accused of killing 17-year-old Kajheel Mais, has been put off until January 25 next year.

Powell is charged with failure to produce a firearm for inspection.

The trial should have started in the Gun Court Division of the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court this morning.

But it was put off pending the outcome of the murder case against him.

Mais was shot dead on the night of Friday, July 1 when the driver of a BMW X6 reportedly opened fire on the taxi in which he was travelling after it bumped into the sport utility vehicle.

A day after the killing, Powell fled the island to the United States.

However, on July 11, he returned to the island and surrendered to the police at the Norman Manley International Airport.

The businessman was asked to surrender his licensed firearm for inspection and forensic analysis but he refused to do so.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com