Concerns were raised yesterday by Senior Puisne Judge Marva McIntosh and the jurors that the trial of the two men charged with the murder of elderly Manchester couple Richard and Julia Lyn was dragging on for too long.

The judge expressed concern that the trial which began on October 5 could go into next year. McIntosh pointed out that she was not going to rush her summation or curtail the lawyers in their addresses to the jury. Concerns were raised after one of the accused men, 28-year-old Lennox Swaby, completed his testimony and was cross-examined in the Home Circuit Court.

Attorney-at-law Dr Randolph Williams, who is representing Swaby, said he needed time to call an expert witness. He said the witness was off the island and he was told that the witness would not be returning until today. One of the jurors has requested four days off within the next two weeks to sit exami-nations so the court will not sit on those days.

Suffering financial losses

The foreman of the jury said because of the length of the trial and the frequent adjournments some members of the jury who are tradesmen were suffering severe financial losses. He said some employers were even saying that if the jurors were away from work for so long, they could do without their service.

It was the jury's suggestion that the trial should start at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. daily, instead of the usual 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The judge granted an adjournment until tomorrow to give the defence sufficient time to get the expert witness.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com