Judge to rule on no-case submission in Jeffrey Daniel murder case tomorrow

By Zaya Williams

After a brief trial in the High Court where about 13 witnesses gave evidence, murder accused Jeffrey Daniel is about to find out if his case will be thrown out before he goes on his defence.

Daniel is accused of killing David Roberts at his Newfield home on May 21, 2021.

The trial unveiled significant details, providing clarity to what had once been a murky incident on May 21, 2021.

Jessica Roberts, the wife, presented her account of what transpired on the day. She testified that Daniel, her daughter’s ex-boyfriend, had been explicitly warned not to return to their Newfield residence following a trespassing incident on May 16, 2021. Despite the warning, Daniel reappeared a few days later, and David was alerted to his presence by his stepdaughter.

According to her testimony, David confronted Daniel outside, leading to a scuffle where she heard the sounds of a weapon striking.

Upon investigating, she witnessed Daniel holding a cutlass, which he subsequently dropped before proceeding to their water tank to clean blood from his head. Her husband was nowhere to be seen at that point, and she contacted the police, shared her account, and directed them to the weapon.

She returned to her bed to await her husband’s return, but when he failed to reappear, she embarked on a search the following morning. Tragically, she discovered David down the road, lifeless in his work garage.

The deceased’s stepdaughter, Jahmina Jackson, also testified, providing her recollection of the events.

On the day of her stepfather’s murder, she reported hearing the shattering of glass and the sound of David’s car alarm. She promptly relayed this information to David, who grabbed his cutlass and rushed outside.

A confrontation between him and Daniel ensued, with Jackson overhearing their exchange. She explained that she only heard commotion, and after the altercation, she observed Daniel washing his hands and face.

Following these critical testimonies, the court heard from several police witnesses, a medical doctor and a pathologist who concluded that Roberts died from massive blood loss due to a huge laceration to his chest.

The pathologists also said that he had two broken ribs.

Despite the evidence, Daniel’s lawyer Wendel Robinson made an oral no case submission to try to quash the case.

The judge will deliver his decision tomorrow.