Clarendon constable dies from crash injuries; vendor killing, home invasion and court rulings dominate Jamaica crime roundup

District Constable Nathaniel McKenzie, 36, of the Clarendon Police Division, died on Monday, July 13, from injuries suffered when his car struck a wall along New Road in Clarendon last month. The Jamaica Constabulary Force said its chaplaincy, medical services and welfare units are supporting his family and colleagues.

Police said McKenzie was driving northbound at about 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, when he lost control and crashed. He was taken to hospital with multiple injuries and later succumbed to them.

In St. Thomas, police are investigating the Sunday-night killing of 47-year-old vendor Valmour Anthony Henry, also known as Sko, of Danverin. Residents reported hearing gunfire about 11:10 p.m. in an area known as Ball Ground. Henry was found with apparent gunshot wounds and later pronounced dead at Princess Margaret Hospital. Investigators have not established a motive. The Morant Bay Criminal Investigation Branch is handling the probe.

St. Catherine and St. Ann detectives are also probing a home invasion in which armed men allegedly took $10 million from a Pleasant Farm couple and then used their debit cards for more than $500,000 in unauthorised transactions in St. Ann. Police said a 51-year-old businessman returning home about 11 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, was confronted by two gunmen who forced him inside, bound him and his wife, and ransacked the house. After seizing cash, cards and PINs, the robbers contacted an accomplice who drove to St. Ann and carried out the withdrawals and spending. The couple freed themselves and reported the crime. Linstead police are leading the inquiry with St. Ann support.

In related court news, Lavar Braham, 28, a labourer of Gregory Park, Portmore, was sentenced on Friday in the St. Catherine Circuit Court by Justice Yvonne Brown to 14 years and seven months for assault occasioning grievous bodily harm with intent, and three years, two months and 28 days for choking with intent, to run concurrently. The court heard that in September 2022 he choked his girlfriend until she lost consciousness, then poured alcohol on her and set her alight. Portmore detectives investigated and charged him.

Separately, six people accused of stealing about $9 million in goods from a GraceKennedy complex on Salt Pond Road, Spanish Town, were freed on Friday in the parish court when the case was dismissed for want of prosecution. Those discharged were John Shaw, Junior Pentot, Leo Irving, Adelma Cunningham, Raquel Cunningham and Marlon Morrison, who faced larceny, conspiracy and Proceeds of Crime Act charges. The Crown said the file remained incomplete after several trial dates; defence counsel argued further delay would be unjust, and the Crown conceded. Attorney Sheldon Campbell said of his client, "My client has been vindicated as from day one we have put forward our innocence. Therefore the outcome was expected. He can now move on with his life." Police had alleged that on May 17, 2024, CCTV showed illicit activity at the facility and that a pallet of goods including coconut powder and corned beef valued at more than $9 million was taken.

Omar Collymore, already serving life terms for the contract-style murders of his wife Simone Campbell-Collymore and driver Winston Walters, is due to stand trial with Kerry Jonas, Omar Pink, Dwayne Pink, Michael Adams and Deshaqua Edwards on charges of conspiracy to murder, shooting with intent and illegal possession of a firearm over an alleged December 23, 2017, attack on a former lover along Sandy Park Road in Kingston. The matter was listed Monday before Justice Chester Stamp for a judge-alone trial but was put off to Wednesday after the Director of Public Prosecutions told the court the defence needed further client instructions. The Crown says men in a white car fired at the complainant’s vehicle days before the wife and driver were killed; all but Jonas had previously appeared with Collymore in the double-murder case.