Jamaica crime and health roundup: court acquittal, murder charges, police shootings and renal warning

A Kingston woman was cleared in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, May 26, after prosecutors accepted they could not proceed with robbery and firearm allegations against 23-year-old Chenise Lynch. Lynch had faced charges of possessing a prohibited weapon, using a weapon to commit a felony, and robbery with aggravation. Attorney Lawin Richardson argued that her involvement could not be established and that doubt should be resolved in her favour. The judge agreed, and a not guilty verdict was entered. Lynch, represented by Janice Gordon and Richardson, remains jailed on another matter.

The case arose from a September 13, 2025 delivery order in Denham Town. The complainant was allegedly taken to another location while travelling on a motorcycle with Lynch, then robbed of personal items by an armed man.

In another matter, 48-year-old Kingston man Nicholas Road, also called Pampidedu, has been charged over a 2021 triple killing in St Andrew. The dead were Kelson Blake, 23, otherwise called TK; Ada Law, 17, otherwise called Addi; and Brandon Scarlet, 20, otherwise called Gussy, all of Brooks Level Road, Stony Hill. Police say Road and two armed men went to the men’s home about midday on August 4, 2021 and opened fire. He was taken into custody on Sunday, May 17, and charged with murder, firearm and ammunition offences, conspiracy to murder, and using a firearm to commit a felony.

Police in St Catherine also reported that two unidentified men were fatally shot after officers intercepted a Honda Stream along the Lluidas Vale main road on Sunday about 6:05 p.m. The vehicle was followed to Mountain Peace Road, where police say occupants fired at them. The men were taken to Linstead Hospital, where they died. INDECOM is investigating.

The suspect in the killing of Papine Market manager Colleen Bernard, identified by the alias Krampe, died in hospital on Monday after being shot by a policeman shortly after Friday’s attack. A Taurus G2C firearm with nine rounds was seized. Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby said market security would be strengthened and Bernard’s family supported.

In Portmore, a 16-year-old student has been charged with wounding with intent after allegedly stabbing another student on May 20 during a dispute on Old Passage Fort main road.

The Southern Regional Health Authority, meanwhile, says emergency renal failure cases have risen at Mandeville Regional Hospital, from 143 in March to 154 in April. Officials warned about diet, dehydration, heat-related illness and dialysis costs, listed at $14,200 per session, with many patients needing treatment three times weekly.