Last week the North Coast Times highlighted five of the most shocking murders on the North Coast in 2016.
The Times covered some of those horrific murders involving guns, knives and machetes and other implements. The situations and motives were varied: lovers turned against their partners; a police officer was killed at a party; a bishop was killed; an accused man was killed in lock-up; three people, including an eight month old baby were shot dead; a child was slaughtered and even two American missionaries were slain.
Here is part two of our feature on some of the worst and more spoken about killings of 2016.
COP KILLED AT BIRTHDAY PARTY
One of the most controversial killings of 2016 on the North Coast was perhaps the death of 30-year-old constable Shane Francis, of Tower Isles, St Mary.
Francis was allegedly shot dead at a party at White River, near Ocho Rios, on Sunday, April 17, 2016, by a man that was once his friend.
The man, 40-year-old Kevin Harris, a salesman of Ocho Rios, St. Ann was charged in relation to the murder. The case is still before the courts pending a trial.
Reports are that at a birthday party at White River, the constable and Harris had a dispute. Police reports are that both drew guns, with the civilian faster on the draw with his Glock pistol. Initial reports said Francis had been shot in the chest and hip.
However, with the autopsy revealing that the constable was shot in the back, it is still unclear how many times he was shot.
Harris, who is the son of an ex-cop went to the Prospect police station and made a statement. He was released two days later.
However, Harris was rearrested on Wednesday, April 27, based on an autopsy that raised questions about the shooting.
Following the collection of several statements, Harris was placed on an identification parade and pointed out and later charged.
Harris was later granted bail in the sum of $500,000 with two sureties on May 11 last year.
There had been several controversies following the killing of the cop as there were allegations of him being “trigger happy.”
Francis also had a case before the Coroner’s Court. The jurors of the Coroner’s Court found that Detective Constable Shane Francis was “criminally responsible for the death of Constable Sheldon Williams” who was shot and killed six years ago.
The verdict was handed down by the jurors at a coroner’s inquest held into the controversial death of the young constable in Ocho Rios, St Ann on Sunday, August 29, 2010.
However, Cons Francis cannot be held criminally responsible as he was shot and killed.
MURDER OF HEART TRUST/NTA TEACHER
The stabbing death of a HEART Trust/NTA teacher last year created shock and left more questions than answers in the minds of many as to the reason he was slain.
Dead is 42-year-old Orville Francis of Almond Tree Lane, Wilderness, Oracabessa in the parish. Francis was described by many as a hardworking instructor of Information Technology at the Port Maria HEART Trust/NTA branch.
Francis was found at his apartment on Monday, February 29, 2015, at around 2 p.m. with his throat slashed and several stab wounds over his body. Police had also indicated at the time that there was no sign of forced entry into Francis’ apartment and no sign of robbery.
This has led the police to suspect that the attacker may have known Francis.
The police had listed Devaro Commock as wanted in relation to Francis’ murder months after his killing. However, despite numerous publications in the media, including The Times, Commock remains on the run.
ST ANN ARCHIBISHOP KILLED
The murder of the leader of a revival healing church in St Ann early, Sunday morning, September 11, 2016, sent shockwaves through the church’s membership and the general population in St Ann.
Dead is Archbishop Delroy Bingham of the Valley Spiritual Healing Temple in Harrison Town, Ocho Rios, St Ann. He lived in Discovery Bay.
Bingham’s brother was also shot and wounded in the incident that started sometime after 4 a.m. in Cardiff Hall, Runaway Bay and ended in blood and death in Sea Crest, Discovery Bay.
The archbishop was shot dead reportedly after money was not forthcoming to gunmen who tore down a grill and entered his house.
Information reaching The Times is that two men armed with guns went to a large house owned by Bingham in Cardiff Hall, Runaway Bay sometime after 4 a.m. on Sunday. The house was occupied by Bingham’s brother and another man was also at the premises.
The two gunmen severely attacked Bingham’s brother after he reportedly refused to tell them where to find the archbishop. In the process, he was shot twice in the leg. It is also alleged that he was also burnt with hot water and one of his arms was broken in the beating. The brother was later tied up and thrown into the trunk of a car that was on the premises.
The other man at the house was not harmed, but he was reportedly ordered to take them to where Bingham was in Discovery Bay.
On the arrival at Bingham’s home in Discovery Bay sometime after 5 a.m., it is alleged that the two men gained entry to the house, by tearing off a grill after calling out to Bingham. It is reported that they demanded money from Archbishop Bingham.
Bingham, who was at home with a son and another man, alleged to be police officer, told them he had no money there. The robbers later took his wallet and his pastoral ring. They later shot him several times.
Bingham and his brother were rushed to the hospital, where Bingham died while undergoing treatment.
It is not clear if anyone had been taken into custody in relation to the murder, shooting and robbery.
TRIPLE SIX OR 666 KILLED IN LOCK-UP
An accused murderer with several aliases and addresses who eluded police for months, was also slain in 2016. The accused man died as a result of stab wounds he received in police lock-up in St Ann’s Bay.
Twenty-six-year-old Carl Tyme, alias ‘Triple Six’, ‘666’ or ‘Wildlife’, of Flanker, St James, met his untimely demise on Tuesday afternoon, November 15, when he was stabbed allegedly by an inmate to the chest in the passageway of the St Ann’s Bay lock-up in St Ann.
Police also list Tyme as having lived at Mt Edgecombe, near Runaway Bay and also from Goshen, Brown’s Town.
Tyme succumbed to his stab wounds around midnight on Wednesday, November 16.
Tyme, who was once listed among St Ann’s eight most wanted, was behind bars in relation to a 2015 murder for which he was on the run for several months.
Police allege that the inmate, Rushane Lynch, who stabbed Tyme, was in custody on robbery charges. Lynch was later charged with murder and the case is before the St Ann Parish Court.
Carl Tyme came to national attention, when he was listed amongst St Ann’s eight most wanted earlier this year. He was on the run for the murder of 19-year-old Javon Nugent of Sturge Town, St. Ann committed in 2015.
According to the St. Ann police, Carl Tyme had been on the run from then until he was held in St Mary, March 17.
He was later charged for murder. The case was progressing and at the time of his death, Tyme had acquired the services of an attorney in the matter.
BUSINESSMAN SLAIN AS HE GOT HOME
A St Ann businessman was also a casualty last year and the death created an outcry in Runaway Bay.
The man was shot to death, in what police sources at the time had said was a hit, on Tuesday night, April 19, 2016.
Dead is 45-year-old Nicholas Jones, operator of Sharkies Restaurant on the beach at Salem, Runaway Bay. Jones was also connected to the well-known family business, Jerkies built by his father.
Jones was shot to death at his home at Sun Flower Villa less than a mile from where he ran the beach club, bar and restaurant.
Police reports are that sometime after 10 p.m., residents heard gunshots coming from the direction of Jones’ home, shortly after he arrived home. The police were called and Jones’ bullet-riddled body was found lying in his driveway in a pool of blood beside his burgundy BMW X5 motor car.
Sources said Mr Jones was pounced upon and shot at least ten times and fell in his driveway. He died at the scene.
His licensed firearm was taken but there was no robbery of anything else.
The Times could not confirm if any suspects had ever been taken into custody with Jones’ murder.
