Three plead guilty to murder of UTech student, businessman
Published:Thursday | May 16, 2019 | 12:23 AMNickoy Wilson/Gleaner Writer
Although the bodies of businessman Curtis Martin and UTech student Mario Daley were never recovered, the three persons charged with their murder have pleaded guilty.
Damian Lawrence, Dionne Mitchell and Evon Simmonds recently entered the plea in the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston.
In her police statement, Martin’s sister said on October 21, 2013 at about 8:30 p.m., she heard voices coming from the living room of their East Kirkland Heights, Red Hills home in St Andrew.
She later saw two men identified as Lawrence and Simmonds, who took out a gun and ordered her into her brother’s bedroom.
She said she saw her brother and Daley kneeling on the floor with their hands and feet bound and tape across their mouths.
Mitchell, she said, then entered the room and was instructed to tie her up.
The accused persons took items from the home, including appliances, clothes, shoes and electronics – laptop and cellular phones.
The complainant stated that she heard what sounded like the trunk of a car being slammed shut.
She waited for a few minutes and then untied herself.
Martin’s sister said a subsequent search of the home revealed that Martin and Daley were missing.
She said she then made a report to the police.
Simmonds was apprehended on October 26, 2013, when the police carried out a sting operation. A cellular phone, later identified as one that had been taken during the robbery, was found in his possession. A a quantity of jewellery and cologne , which belonged to Martin, were also taken from Simmonds’ home.
Lawrence , Mitchell and Simmonds were later arrested.
The three were previously found guilty for illegal possession of firearm and robbery with aggravation before the Gun Court stemming from the 2013 incident.
To date, the now presumed deceased men have not been seen or heard from.