Wife killer Omar Collymore wants case dismissed in alleged plot to murder ex-girlfriend

Defence lawyers representing convicted killer Omar Collymore and his accomplices, who are accused of plotting with Collymore to kill his ex-girlfriend, are to make an application to have the case against them dismissed.
Collymore and his co-accused – Carey Jonas, Omar Pink, Dwayne Pink, Michael Adams and Shaquille Edwards – are to stand trial on charges of conspiracy to murder, shooting with intent, and illegal possession of a firearm.
The attorneys signalled their intention to make the application after the trial failed to start yesterday in the Home Circuit Court because of the Crown’s lack of preparedness.
The lawyers argued that their clients have been in custody for years awaiting trial and that three trial dates have already been vacated despite the defence being ready to proceed.
The trial had been scheduled to begin on Monday but was pushed back to Wednesday at the request of the Crown.
However, when the matter was called on Wednesday, Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson told Justice Chester Stamp that the prosecution needed more time to put its house in order.
She explained that although the Crown’s main witness was present, the next witness, the investigating officer, was absent because of health issues and his availability remained uncertain.
According to Thompson, the investigator is a crucial witness whose evidence is needed to strengthen the Crown’s case, which relies heavily on question-and-answer statements and caution statements allegedly given by the defendants.
She said the prosecution may also have to make an application under Section 31D to allow the investigator to testify remotely or for his statement to be admitted into evidence. She did not specify the reason for the proposed application.
Thompson further disclosed that a new investigator has been assigned to obtain statements from persons who were present when the original statements were recorded. She added that all substantive statements have already been disclosed to the defence.
The defence attorneys, clearly dissatisfied with the latest development, informed the judge of their intention to apply to have the charges dismissed.
Attorney-at-law Gnoj McDonald pointed out that it took three years for the matter to receive a trial date and that the trial has now been postponed three times, although the case dates back to 2017.
She also noted that the matter had initially been set for trial alongside the double- murder case involving Collymore’s wife and her driver but was later severed for reasons unknown to the defence. McDonald said the defence has been ready to proceed since then.
Responding, Thompson said the Crown was acting in its role as minister of justice and did not want to prejudice any of the defendants, which was the reason for severing the matters.
Attorney-at-law Kerry-Ann Wilson, who represents Jonas, said her client has been in custody since 2018 and argued that if another trial date is not set until next year, he would have spent at least 10 years behind bars before his trial concludes.
She noted that Jonas had no other matters before the court and requested an opportunity to make submissions seeking dismissal of the charges.
She also argued that he would have completed his sentence even before the trial begins.
Stamp subsequently ordered the prosecution to complete its outstanding disclosure by September 18, when the matter returns for a plea and case management hearing.
He also directed the Crown to be in a position to proceed and to serve all remaining statements at least seven days before the hearing.
The judge subsequently granted the defence permission to file its written submissions by September 4, with the prosecution to respond before the parties make oral submissions on September 18.
The prosecution is alleging that the attack on the woman was orchestrated by Collymore while he was planning the murder of his wife.
All except Jonas had previously appeared alongside Collymore in the trial for the double murder of Simone Collymore and her driver, Winston Walters.
Collymore, Omar Pink and Adams were convicted of the murders, while Edwards was convicted of conspiracy to murder.
According to the Crown, the complainant, who had been involved in a three-year intimate relationship with Collymore, was shot at on December 23, 2017, while travelling along Sandy Park Road in Kingston.
It is alleged that men travelling in a white motor car opened fire at her vehicle, damaging it.
The woman had reportedly ended her relationship with Collymore about two months before his wife was killed.
Investigators allege that Collymore arranged to meet the woman in December to exchange a gift after inviting her to lunch two days earlier and giving her the wrong item. The alleged attack occurred just days before the murders of his wife and her driver.
Collymore, Pink and Adams were found guilty on May 15, 2024, following a four-month trial for the double murders and conspiracy to murder. They were sentenced in July.
Collymore received two life sentences and was ordered to serve 46 years and six months before becoming eligible for parole, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Adams, identified by the prosecution as the contract killer, also received two life sentences and must serve 42 years and six months before becoming eligible for parole.
Pink was sentenced to two life terms and ordered to serve 32 years and six months before parole eligibility.
Edwards, whom the court found had withdrawn from the murder plot before the killings, was convicted only of conspiracy to murder and sentenced to one year.
Attorney-at-law Diane Jobson represents Collymore, Vanessa Taylor represents Omar Pink, Sanjay Smith represents Adams, Vivian Wilson represents Jonas, and McDonald represents Edwards.
tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com