MONTEGO BAY, St James—The trial of Gregory Roberts, accused of the 2017 murder of 15-year-old Shineka Gray, took a significant turn as a communication data forensic analyst expert testified in the St. James Circuit Court. The expert revealed that there was no communication link between Gray’s phone and the two men accused of her death prior to the murder.
The co-accused Mario Morrison had previously pleaded guilty in September 2022 and was sentenced to life in prison a month later. During the trial, the officer in charge of the Communication, Forensics and Cybercrime Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Maurice Goode, testified that call data records and phone numbers were analyzed.
Analyzing the call data records, DSP Goode revealed that there were communications between the two accused men on the day of the murder, and that Morrison’s mobile number was later associated with Gray’s phone. It was explained that Morrison had placed his sim card in Gray’s phone and vice versa, indicating a direct connection between the two in regards to the communication link.
Furthermore, the trial heard claims of malice between Roberts and his ex-girlfriend, with text messages suggesting financial disputes and alleged threats. Morrison also confessed to receiving Gray’s phone from Roberts and making calls from it the day after her death.
This testimony is a significant development in the case, shedding light on the communication links and associations between the accused men and the victim. The trial is ongoing, with DSP Goode being the 15th witness to testify before the court.