Man accused of MoBay murder to stand trial in September
Published:Monday | August 5, 2024 | 12:07 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Daniel Jones, the St James man charged with the January 5, 2024 murder of 24-year-old Shacquim Lindsay, who was shot dead in downtown Montego Bay, is booked to stand trial in the St James Circuit Court on September 16, following his committal hearing on Wednesday.
Lindsay, who hailed from Shanty Town in Paradise, Norwood, was shot dead along St James Street in downtown Montego Bay. His killing was the second murder in the parish this year.
During Jones’ committal hearing, presiding parish judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce, outlined the reasons that influenced her decision, including documentation that indicated Jones had a gun in his possession at the time of his arrest and that he was identified as a person of interest in Lindsay’s death. Jones was represented by attorney-at-law Chumu Parris.
“This story starts two weeks after a killing that took place; a gun was recovered from the accused man in Rose Heights when the police apprehended him, and the police recognised him as a person of interest in a murder that took place near the ‘Gully’ bus stop in Montego Bay,” said Grant-Pryce. “On that fateful morning, 4:00 in the morning, the police were alerted to shots being fired, and the deceased person was lying in his own blood in the street in the vicinity of the ‘Gully’ bus stop…14 days later, the accused man says he is willing to give a caution statement.
“This is not a case where I can stop this matter, in full fledge, going from here to the Supreme Court. This is a matter ripe for the proper jurisdiction, which is for a judge and jury to determine issues that are raised in this case. They need to be properly articulated before a judge, who will give appropriate directions to the jury, and as such, I rule that this matter will be committed to the Circuit Court.”
During the hearing, the prosecution outlined that, based on its evidence bundle, Lindsay was killed during the commission of a robbery in which Jones was a participant, and that the gun that was reportedly used in the act was later retrieved from Jones.
Following the hearing, Jones was remanded in custody ahead of his case’s scheduled listing before the Circuit Court on September 16.
According to reports, on January 5, about 4 a.m., residents heard explosions and summoned the police. On the arrival of the lawmen, Lindsay was seen lying along the roadway on St James Street with gunshot wounds to his upper body. He was later pronounced dead at hospital.
Based on statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the St James police division has recorded 78 murders and 75 shootings up to July 20, which makes it the division with the most murders since the start of the year.