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Politics News

Journalist’s murder trial: Defendants turn witnesses


Three defendants involved in the late journalist Tyron Browne’s murder case have reached agreement with prosecutors to testify against principal defendant Jonathan Williams who is alleged to have murdered the victim in April.


Prosecutors on Wednesday, 15 August nolle prosequi (abandoned trial against) defendants Bill Caesar Kennedy, Massa Kenedy and Juana Bracewell to have them testify for government against defendant Williams in return.

Defendant Williams is alleged to have murdered journalist Browne in the dawn hours of Sunday, 15 April in Du-port Road, Paynesville when the victim visited the residence of Alice and Edwina Youtey and had confrontation with the accused.

Defendants Massa Kennedy and Juana Bracewell were among those charged with hindering law enforcement in the case against defendant Williams. Police say all of those that witnessed journalist Browne’s murder including Massa Kennedy, Bill Caesar Kennedy, Juana Bracewell and defendant Williams’ two nieces Alice Youtey and Edwina Promise Youtey did not report the crime to the police.

Police investigators say they established that defendants Massa Kennedy and Juana Bracewell were occupants of one of the apartments in the compound where defendant Williams allegedly murdered journalist Browne and they allegedly witnessed the crime.

According to police, defendants Caesar and Ernest Kermue who were said to be at large, had allegedly helped defendant Williams to put late journalist Browne’s corpse in the car.

The victim’s body was said to have been dumped along the Kingdom Care Road in Duport Road on that fateful dawn of Sunday, 15 April. Prior to being murdered, police say journalist Browne was a friend to Edwina Youtey and he had visited her several times both day and night at her house in Du-port Road which later became the crime scene.

Victim Browne was working with businessman Atty. George Kailondo’s private – owned Super FM/TV when he met his untimely demise following some exchanges with defendant Williams who is said to have been at Alice and Edwina’s residence before the victim’s visit there.

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Police say defendant Williams allegedly admitted to killing victim Browne by stabbing him with a knife after the deceased allegedly knocked his (suspect’s) head on the wall.

The defendant is alleged to have narrated that he thought the deceased was an armed robber. But investigators said journalist Browne was not an armed robber and did not possess any weapon when he visited the defendant’s compound in Duport Road where he got killed.

At the call of the case at Criminal Court “A” Wednesday, Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie ordered the sheriff to remove from the docket defendants Bill, Massa and Juana since the defense team interposed no objection to prosecution’s request to use them as state witnesses.

Further, the court gives defendant Williams and his family two weeks to consult and get a lawyer, allowing him to prepare in that period for the case that is due to resume on 29 August at 9:30 a.m.

The Court says Mr. Williams is therefore advised that after he and his family members have consulted and retained a lawyer, he should meet with the Clerk [on] 29 August to take hold of the files or make copies of the file to adequately prepare to represent him.

The court’s instruction comes in the wake of defendant Williams’ plea to be given a three – week period to secure and negotiate with a lawyer who shall also review the case file.

This paper understands that when defendant Williams finally settles agreement with a legal counsel to represent him in the case, the Court would then read the indictment to him to get his plea.

By Winston W. Parley

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