St. Elizabeth, Jamaica : POLICE Corporal Selvin Williams is to be tried on a charge of murder in the St Elizabeth Circuit Court

Tuesday, January 12, 2016    

POLICE Corporal Selvin Williams is to be tried on a charge of murder in the St Elizabeth Circuit Court in relation to the 2012 shooting death of a man at a dance.

Sonia Wint-Blair — the senior magistrate for the parish — ruled at the conclusion of a preliminary enquiry on January 8 that Williams be tried for murder, according to a release from the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM).

The magistrate concluded that a prima facie case was established in ruling that Williams go to trial for the killing of Valbert Salmon.

The case is to be called up in the circuit court when the term opens on February 15. Williams, whose $400,000 bail was extended, was represented by Queen’s Counsel Velma Hylton.

The shooting reportedly occurred on Saturday, December 29, 2012, approximately 10:00 pm, in the Top Hill community of St Elizabeth, while a team of three police officers from the St Elizabeth Operational Support, led by Williams, was patrolling the area.

Williams — who was the driver — came upon two men fighting at the dance and while trying to quell the feud he was reportedly attacked with a knife.

He subsequently pulled his firearm, discharged one round in the man’s direction and Salmon fell to the ground.

According to INDECOM, the account of the police and witnesses did not accord, and following the conclusion of the investigation, it was recommended that Williams be charged with murder.

He was arrested and charged by INDECOM on September 10, 2014.