Police have charged a 21-year-old man with murder in Friday night’s death of 40-year-old taxi driver Lindel Graham of St Mary. Charged is Christopher Allen, otherwise called (o/c) Chris, salesman of Frontier in Port Maria, St Mary. Reports are that Graham, o/c Rat Bat, of Tremelsworth, Highgate St Mary was operating his white Toyota Corolla motorcar on his route between Ocho Rios and Port Maria about 10:45 Friday, July 25, when one of his passengers asked to be taken into the Boscobel Housing Scheme. This would require the taxi to come off the route. Allen, a passenger said he did not want to go into the scheme and asked to be let off on the main road, at the scheme’s entrance where he reportedly said he would wait for the taxi on its return. However Graham asked for the fare to that point since, he said, Allen might well get another vehicle by the time the taxi returned. There was a dispute and harsh words were exchanged as Allen disembarked the taxi. It’s not clear if any fare was paid. Further reports are that when the taxi with other passengers returned, Allen entered the taxi again and the altercation continued, as the taxi moved off. It is reported that Allen used a stone to hit Graham over the head. The vehicle got out of control and crashed in to a guard rail. Police in a scene-of-crime car approaching the area saw the accident and was told what happened and held on to Allen. Meantime, Allen was taken by another car to the St Ann’s Bay hospital where he was pronounced dead. Allen gave a cautioned statement to the Oracabessa police Sunday, ahead of a court appearance this week.
