December 18 hearing for church ritual killing

THE DEFENCE and the prosecution in the matter involving Andre Ruddock, accused of slashing the throat of a woman during an alleged church ritual in St James nearly two years ago, have discussed and agreed on a date and the mode for the trial.

Justice Judith Pusey gave the instructions to the parties when they appeared in the Home Circuit Court for the plea and case management hearing yesterday.

However, the hearing was rescheduled to December 18. The defendant was further remanded.

In the meantime, Ruddock’s lawyer, Anthony Williams, has indicated that his client wishes to have a judge-alone trial, but the prosecution said that it needs time to get further advice on whether that is permissible.

Taneka Gardner, 39 was killed during an alleged sacrificial ritual at Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries in St James.

A man identified as Michael Brown was also found dead on the compound of the church on October 17, 2021.

Ruddock was taken into custody by the police following a bizarre series of events that ended in the deaths of the two individuals and reportedly confessed to Gordon’s murder.

Ruddock and Gardener were both members of the ministry, headed by the late Dr Kevin Smith.

Gardener was introduced to the church by her aunt while Ruddock was employed by Dr Smith to take care of his animals, including 17 goats and three cows, and to perform other jobs around the church.

Brown (now deceased) was a member of the church at the time of his demise and was suffering from a health issue, which resulted in tubes being attached to his body. Dr Smith told Michael Brown, “You have to die, but you will rise again because I am the resurrection and the light.”

Thereafter, Dr Smith pulled the tubes out from Mr Brown, who then bled to death.

Dr Kevin Smith, however, died a week later in a motor vehicle crash while he was being transported to Kingston to be formally arrested and charged with murder and other offences related to the alleged ritual.

Attorney-at-law Venice Brown is also representing Ruddock.