Alleged killers in Cherry Tree Lane massacre remanded
Published:Thursday | September 19, 2024 | 12:10 AM
The two men charged for last month’s massacre in Cherry Tree Lane, Clarendon, which left eight persons dead, were further remanded when they reappeared in the Gun Court Division of the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday.
The duo - Dushane Smalling, 28, otherwise called ‘Snowman’, of North Street in May Pen, and Leighton Whyte, 32, otherwise called ‘Bands’, of Havannah Heights, are to return to court on October 17.
They are each charged with eight counts of murder, eight counts of shooting with intent, eight counts of wounding with the use of a firearm, possession of prohibited weapon, and authorised possession of ammunition.
When the men appeared in court yesterday, disclosure was made to their lawyers and a new date scheduled for mention. However, there was no mention of a previous intention to have the matter transferred to the High Court.
The men are charged for the August 11 deaths of seven-year-old Aiden Bartley; Roger Messam, 48; Magaret Bonner, 40; Cavel Daley, 26; Diamond Bennett, a 20-year-old cashier; Errol Stewart, a butcher, 68, also known as ‘Wagga’; Jermaine Boothe, 33, also known as ‘Blacks’; and 50-year-old Lawrence Francis.
It was reported that on the day in question, about 8:45 p.m., the two accused men, along with Steve Smith and other men, who were all armed with handguns, drove to the community, where a birthday party was being held, and fired at a group of persons.
The shooting left eight persons dead and nine injured, including a one-year-old infant.
Following the shooting, the three men reportedly left the scene in the motor car in which they had arrived.
Killed by police
Smith was subsequently killed by the police.
Smalling was arrested after turning himself into the police. It is reported that Smalling took himself in to clear his name, which had been bandied about by bloggers. However, he was told that he was not a person of interest but was sent to the Major Investigations Division (MID) in Kingston to provide him with “written clearance” after he insisted that he be given something in writing.
However, he ended up being charged, and Whyte was arrested while he was reporting as part of his bail condition in relation to another matter.
Attorney-at-law Kemar Robinson is representing Smalling, and Dwight Reece is defending Whyte.