St James triple murder accused to face committal hearing
ST JAMES, Jamaica – The St James Parish Court has scheduled a committal hearing date of December 5, for 28-year-old Wesley Reid, who is charged in connection with a triple murder in Roehampton, St James.
During the hearing, the judge will carefully evaluate the evidence presented and decide whether it is sufficient to warrant transferring the case to Home Circuit Court.
He is jointly charged with his brother Knitson Reid for three counts of murder, possession of a prohibited weapon, and using a firearm to commit a felony.
The brothers were charged in connection with an incident that took place at a section of the Roehampton community known as Mars, off Gaza Lane. It resulted in the deaths of three cousins: 38-year-old supermarket worker Conroy “Beenie” Lawrence, shopkeeper Chevon “Kong” Gordon, and 50-year-old Carleslie “Shotta” Morris.
Wesley Reid received the committal hearing date when he appeared before presiding judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce on Thursday. His bail was extended until December 5.
Meanwhile, Wesley Reid’s brother, Knitson Reid, is charged solely with the May 31 double murder in Roehampton.
In relation to that incident, he is charged with the murder of 23-year-old farmer Linston Anderson, otherwise called Blacks, and 20-year-old Tavar Doeman, otherwise called Ravers.
He was not present in court on Thursday, because he is currently being held at the St Catherine District Prison awaiting psychiatric evaluation.
“A psychiatric evaluation was supposed to be done, but it was not…It will be done this coming week,” Knitson Reid’s attorney, Michael Hemmings, told the court on Thursday.
On the previous mention date, September 29, the court was told that the case file for Knitson Reid was substantially complete, but it was not stated on Thursday whether it is now completed.
He was remanded in absentia and will be brought back to court on December 5, to join his brother.
According to police reports, about 10:30 pm the men were at a location in the community when a gunman approached them and shot both. Another man was injured during the incident.
The police were summoned and Anderson and Doeman were seen suffering from gunshot wounds. They later succumbed to their injuries.
The other injured man escaped and was assisted to hospital, where he received treatment.