Peter Champagnie, leader of the defense team for Mavado’s teenage son Dante,
says a verdict may not be handed down until the end of the month.
According to Champagnie, “…the prosecution is still presenting its case and the main witnesses are still being cross-examined. i can’t say for sure how long the trial will run but I am expecting it to continue for at least two weeks. There are quite a number of witnesses to be questioned and so it’s still early days yet for a verdict”.
Champagnie says that both Brooks and his co-accused Andre Hines have maintained their innocence, “all that I will say is that we have clear instructions from him that he is innocent and we are certainly going to be challenging the prosecution’s case as it goes along.”
Brooks, who is 18 years old, is being tried as an adult. he and Hines have been
remanded since 2018 and are facing trial for the murder of Lorenzo Thomas, also
known as ‘Israel’ or ‘Trulups,’ in Cassava Piece, St. Andrew.
The murder occurred on June 5, 2018, the charges laid against them included conspiracy to murder, arson, shooting with intent and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.