Suspect in Payless Motors murder case expected to be extradited

Chad Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Head of the Major Investigation Task Force (MIT), Superintendent Michael Phipps, said extradition proceedings are to begin for the return of a suspect held in connection with the murder of Payless Motors manager, Robert Mendez, on Maxfield Avenue in Kingston.

"We are in the process of putting the file together so that we can go to them [director of public prosecutions]. We cannot give a date, but very soon we will approach them," Phipps said.

The man, whose name has not yet been released, was held recently in Canada, a collaborative effort between police personnel in that country and local investigators.

IMMIGRATION VIOLATIONS

The superintendent said that legal proceedings were to be conducted with authorities in that jurisdiction as the suspect also faced immigration violations there.

Investigators from the MIT have already slapped murder, conspiracy to murder, robbery with aggravation and illegal possession of firearm charges on another man, 42-year-old John Jarrett, otherwise known as 'Tucker', of Balcombe Drive in Kingston 11.

He is to make an appearance in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on July 14.

Forty-one-year-old Robert Mendez was shot dead on April 1 by two men who posed as customers at Payless Motors. The attack was captured on closed-circuit television and showed the manager slouched in his chair afterwards. A firearm was taken from Mendez.

The footage made the rounds on Facebook, YouTube and other social media sites.

Phipps has thanked the public for coming forward with information.