Businesswoman claims coercion from cops led to ‘false confession’ in double murder
Published:Thursday | August 10, 2023 | 12:12 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
The Portland businesswoman implicated in May’s double gun murder in Portland, which included the alleged target, a pregnant woman, is now denying any involvement in the incident.
Jody-Ann Jackson, who, yesterday, was offered $4-million bail, had initially given a caution statement to the police in the presence of her lawyer in which she admitted to certain things, including her involvement.
However, her new lawyer, Courtney Rowe, claimed that the mother of three was forced by the police to give the incriminating statement.
The 28-year-old bar operator and nail technician of Anchovy Land Settlement in the parish is charged with the murders of 28-year-old Shadae Pink of Campbell Avenue, Port Antonio, and 23-year-old Kieno James King of Johns Town district, both in the parish, who were killed in the deadly shooting attack on May 23 along Campbell Avenue.
Both victims were playing dominoes with others when they were attacked and shot. The woman is said to have been eight to nine months’ pregnant at the time of her death.
Pink was reportedly pregnant for Jackson’s “babyfather”.
Allegations are that Jackson not only rented the car, but drove it to where the pregnant woman was and pointed her out to the shooter.
But Rowe, who applied for bail in the Portland Parish Court, took issue with the caution statement while denying that his client was involved.
“My argument really is that she was coerced by the police to say certain things by use of threat by the police that she would lose her children and that they would be placed in state care,” Rowe told The Gleaner.
Frame of mind
He also argued in court that his client was not in the right frame of mind when she gave the statement as she was breastfeeding and for about three days did not know the whereabouts of her six-week old infant.
He emphasised that the situation that existed prior to the taking of the caution statement would undoubtedly have affected the voluntariness of the caution statement and weakened the prosecution’s case.
In the meantime, Jackson was offered bail by Parish Judge Tonelle Beecher on condition that she reports five times per week at the Claremont Police Station and surrenders her travel documents. A stop order, enforced at all ports of entry, was also ordered.
She was also instructed not to interfere with the witnesses and to avoid the parish unless she was attending court.
Jackson, who was previously denied bail twice, is to return to court on September 22.
According to a police report, Jackson contracted and conspired with other persons to kill Pink.
Allegations are that, on May 23, Jackson rented a grey Toyota Fielder, and in the evening, drove the car, with others aboard, to the intersection of Campbell Avenue and Thompson Avenue, where she pointed out Pink to her accomplices.
She reportedly stopped the car, and one man alighted and shot Pink and King, killing them on the spot.
Both were taken to the Port Antonio Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to one eyewitness, Pink was shot three times in the head.
Following the investigation, Jackson was arrested and charged.
Attorney-at-law Cecile Black is also representing Jackson.