Witness testifies that prisoner promised to frame Hamilton

Barbara Gayle, Justice Coordinator

A prisoner testified today that while he was in custody at the Horizon Remand Centre, a man who was also in lock-up told him that he was going to frame Rushon Hamilton.

Hamilton, an ex-cop, is on trial for the murder of 14-year-old Jhaneel Goulbourne.

The Crown is alleging that Hamilton sexually assaulted the girl on October 4, 2008 then killed her after the incident was reported.

The witness who was speaking at the trial this morning said the man explained to him that he was going to testify in a case against the cop.

He said the man further told him that he was going to plot a story against Hamilton.

He said the man also told him that the cop had raped and kidnapped a girl and he was a friend of the girl’s mother.

He said that sometime earlier this month, he heard a news item about the case and he called attorney at law, Peter Champagnie, and that’s how he came to bear witness for the defense.

In the meantime, the defense has now closed its case.

The lawyers are expected to address the jury later this afternoon.

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