Hung jury in murder case; judge orders retrial

At news time, a jury has been unable to reach a verdict after deliberating twice in one day in the sensational murder trial of Keon “Duppy” Myvette. The jury in this trial comprises six women and six men who were locked up for four hours in the first instance and then an hour and twenty minutes in the second round. Just after six this evening Justice Adolph Lucas told Myvette that the jury could not agree on a unanimous verdict and he then ordered a retrial. Myvette was accused of the murder of thirty-two year old Michael “Poppa” Gladden, who was shot dead shortly before two in the afternoon of February twenty-eighth 2007 on Lovely Lane. The case for the prosecution represented by Crown Counsel Grant Schoen, depended on the testimony of Levi “Pedee” Brown, a security guard residing on Lovely Lane. Brown testified that he saw Myvett shoot Gladden with a point thirty-eight pistol. He said Myvett fired two shots and Gladden moved his body to one side when the first shot was fired. Brown said he saw Gladden clutch his abdomen then collapse to the ground. Gladden died instantly from the gunshot to the left side of his head near to his left eye. Brown said Myvett and Gladden were fighting prior to the shooting and Myvett fired the shots from about fifty feet away from Gladden. Brown said Myvett picked up his bicycle and rode away on to Pickstock Street after the shooting. Myvett, who was represented by Attorney Simeon Sampson, chose to remain silent. It did not come out as evidence at the trial but according to reports Myvett and Gladden began to fight because of jealousy over a woman. The trial began last Tuesday.