DEFENCE attorneys representing six policemen in their Home Circuit Court murder trial in Kingston, on Tuesday fought to convince the trial judge that she should not allow a written statement from a witness to be admitted into evidence.

The attorneys were of the opinion that the witness should give her own explanation to the court as to why she can’t testify. The prosecution team, led by Kathy-Ann Pyke, submitted a special application to have the statement rendered into evidence without the witness having to appear on the witness stand.

However, the defence attorneys appealed to trial judge Sonia Bertram-Linton, asking her to prevent an officer from the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) from being allowed to testify on behalf of the witness, who is said to be overseas and cannot attend the trial allegedly due to family issues.