Coke family cheers as relatives freed by courts

Relatives are reportedly overjoyed following the release of relatives of Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

"The family is very overwhelmed by everything and we won't be speaking much on the issue. We are just happy that they have been released," the relative told THE WEEKEND STAR hours after they were released from custody following a near three-year prison stay. The men were held in connection with the murder of 31-year-old Patrick Davis on March 12, 2018 in Rockfort, Kingston.

Freed yesterday were Leighton 'Livity' Coke, Lanchester 'Bamma T' Coke, Michael Coke, David 'Alien' Biggs, Wayne Page, Iesha Jones and Delmarco Cephas. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions decided to enter a conditional nolle prosequi after a witness could not be located to facilitate the beginning of the trial.

A conditional nolle prosequi seeks to discontinue a case but leaves room for the accused to be brought before the court at a later date. Kerry*, one of several people ecstatic over the news, told THE WEEKEND STAR that it was a welcome change to finally hear something positive about Tivoli Gardens.

Get bad name

"We suffer too much and Jamaica know this. Tivoli always a get bad name so wi affi feel good fi know say something positive happen," she said.

The accused were represented by Queen's Counsel Tom Tavares-Finson, Queen's Counsel Peter Champagnie, Donahue Martin, Pierre Rogers, Vincent Wellesley and Tamika Harris.

THE WEEKEND STAR was unable to determine how the Kingston West police plan to monitor the situation, as head of the police's Corporate Communications Unit, Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, told our news team that she was unable to provide an update.

*Name changed