Men convicted for kidnapping, murder await fate
Published:Saturday | November 19, 2022 | 12:09 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
Two alleged members of the Bobo Gang, who were convicted for the 2011 kidnapping and murder of a businessman in Russia, Westmoreland, were remanded this week for the completion of their sentencing on November 25 in the Home Circuit Court.
One of the men was also found guilty of killing the businessman’s taxi driver.
Thirty-seven-year-old Jermaine James, otherwise called ‘Bounty’, of Port Antonio in Portland, and 32-year-old Dwayne Drummond, of Pitfour in St James, were found guilty of the murder of 22-year-old cooking gas salesman Rohan Jones following a jury trial in August.
They were also convicted of extortion and kidnapping.
The jury also found James guilty of the murder of 24-year-old taxi driver Caymian Munroe.
The men were killed after the duo’s demand for a $200,000 ransom for Jones was not met.
Jones had hired Munroe to assist him with the delivery of cooking gas on May 9, but while delivering the gas, they were held up by gunmen in Russia.
The men demanded money, and when it was not met, Munroe was shot and killed as he tried to escape.
The men then kidnapped Jones and later demanded $200,000 for his return, but his body was found three days later in bushes along Wharf Road in Savanna-la-Mar.
The sentencing for the duo was scheduled for Thursday before Justice Leighton Pusey but was postponed when they appeared.
BEGGING FOR SECOND CHANCE
However, earlier during the sentencing hearing, James’ lawyer, Clive Mullings, begged for a second chance.
“Give him a second chance to prove that he is capable of becoming a productive citizen,” he submitted.
Mullings, while urging the judge not to impose the maximum sentence, asked that he considers that James had no previous conviction and that his antecedent had nothing to suggest that he was involved in criminal or any antisocial behaviour.
Drummond’s lawyer, Shanelle Johnson, while mentioning that he had spent a decade in prison, also asked for him to be given another chance to become a better citizen.
She asked the judge to exercise discretion and give her client the minimum pre-parole period of 20 years.
The judge, however, reminded her that her client is convicted of two murders in which a gun was used and so the minimum time would not apply in this case.
At the same time, Johnson noted that although her client does not doubt the function of the court, its ruling, or that the evidence was insufficient, he is still maintaining his innocence.
In the meanwhile, Drummond’s mother, Angella White, while giving character witness, described him as a jovial, family-oriented and peaceful individual.
She said that before his arrest seven years ago, he had lived with her and she did not believe that he is capable of committing murder.
Attorney-at-law Christopher Townsend also represented Drummond.