Ewarton man granted $700,000 bail in nephew murder case tied to World Cup TV dispute

A 25-year-old labourer from Ewarton, St. Catherine, has been granted $700,000 bail after being charged with the murder of his 23-year-old nephew, Lamar Mullins, also of Ewarton.

Chad Campbell appeared in the parish court on Friday. His attorney, Donna Hugh Martin, argued that self-defence is a live issue and that Campbell has a fixed address to which he can relocate. Senior Parish Court Judge Desiree Elaine approved bail and ordered Campbell to stay away from Ewarton and to have no contact with witnesses.

The charge arises from an incident at about 8:00 p.m. on June 17 at Campbell's home. Mullins was watching a World Cup football match on television when Campbell asked him to lower the volume. Mullins reportedly refused, an argument followed, and the dispute turned physical. During the struggle, Mullins was stabbed in the upper body. He was taken to Linstead Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Campbell was arrested that night and later charged following an investigation.

In separate court news, Brian Christi joined his brother De Carlos Christi before the St. James Parish Court on Wednesday on charges of obtaining money by false pretences linked to an alleged overseas job scam. Prosecutors say that in January a woman was introduced to a man who offered overseas job placement and deposited $52,000 into an account linked to De Carlos. Two other people are said to have paid $25,000 and $10,000 into the same account. After the payments, the victims were told they would travel to Kingston for the programme, but it never materialised. Police later found De Carlos's bank card and account details in Brian's possession. De Carlos, who remains in custody in St. Ann on other matters, was not in court. Bail for Brian was extended to July 22 for case management. He is represented by attorney Martin Thomas.

Police fatally shot a man during an alleged gunfight in Corill, Spanish Town, St. Catherine, on Friday morning. Officers from the St. Catherine North Proactive Investigation Unit and the Area Fugitive Apprehension Team entered the community searching for gunmen. Police say two men jumped a fence and opened fire; officers returned fire. One man, known by the alias Ren of Cory Hill, was found with gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at Spanish Town Hospital. The Independent Commission of Investigations is probing the shooting. A Taurus pistol with a magazine holding three 9mm cartridges was recovered.

Five Jamaican citizens are among six people indicted in the United States over an alleged multi-million-dollar Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes fraud that prosecutors say mainly targeted elderly Americans. The US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut named Andre John Gale, 33, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Ali Main, 25, of Daniel, Florida; Anacha Chvers, 29, of Daniel, Florida; Matthew Hutchinson, 24, of Williamsburg, Virginia; and Courtney Reynolds, 31, of Miami, Florida. Rashan Thompson, 24, of Fort Lauderdale, the sixth defendant, is a US citizen. Federal prosecutors allege that in 2022 the group told victims they had won prizes but had to pay taxes or fees first, and that some victims were drawn into a bogus sponsor programme. Victims' personal details and Social Security benefits were also misused, authorities say. A grand jury in New Haven returned the indictment on June 2. Gail, Hutchinson, Reynolds, and Thompson pleaded not guilty on Friday and were released on US$250,000 bonds. Main and the others remain in custody, according to prosecutors. US Attorney David X. Sullivan said legitimate sweepstakes winners are never asked to pay upfront fees to collect prizes.