Security Guard Awarded Over $10 Million as Ruel Reid Trial Reset and British Visitor Fined

A Supreme Court award to a St James security guard, a fresh warning over delays in the Ruel Reid fraud case, and a fine for a British visitor who admitted trying to bribe a policeman were among the main court developments reported this week in Jamaica.

Justice Delroy Staple ruled that Marksman Limited was negligent after a female guard, identified as EC, was raped while working alone at Island Car Rentals Limited in Montego Bay on February 5, 2018. The court found that she had been sent as a last-minute replacement to a wooden guardhouse by the main entrance, where a chain-link fence gave poor protection and the door had no functioning lock. Staple said the company had no adequate system for a woman posted alone at night, despite the earlier Laverne Anderson case, and no proper lone-duty policy, training, panic button, reliable communication equipment, or effective patrol and CCTV supervision. He awarded $6.5 million for assault and battery and $3.5 million for pain, suffering and loss of amenities tied to PTSD, plus interest at 3 per cent a year from December 20, 2023 to June 16, 2026 and costs to be taxed if not agreed.

The judge accepted EC's account that an intruder got onto the property, raped her and escaped. He said she had acted reasonably after noticing suspicious activity and reporting it to a supervisor, rejected the claim that she contributed to her injuries by failing to secure the guardhouse, and said the absence of genital trauma, torn clothing or bodily fluids did not undermine the case. The court heard that the attacker claimed to be one of St James' most wanted, threatened to kill her, and forced oral sex without a condom. Medical evidence pointed to severe psychological trauma requiring medication and psychotherapy, and the court said the later identification of a suspect supported her credibility. Melissa Cunningham-Cuff appeared for the claimant, while Houston Thompson and Chanel Nelson represented Marksman, instructed by Nunes, Scholefield, Deleon and Company.

At the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, Senior Parish Court Judge Sanchia Burrell ordered that the trial of former education minister Ruel Reid and his co-accused continue on October 5, one day short of a year since the proceedings began. She made the order in the presence of Reid, his wife, daughter Sharen, Sherelle Reid, Councillor Kimbro Lawrence and former Caribbean Maritime University head Fritz Pinnock, after noting little progress in nine months because of scheduling problems. Some defence and prosecution lawyers were absent, with some represented by juniors or other counsel and others joining by Zoom. At least 90 witnesses are expected in the case, which alleges that between March 2016 and October 2019 more than $25 million was siphoned from the Ministry of Education and CMU through payments for work not done or services not provided, transfers to accounts owned or controlled by the accused, and cash handovers, leading to conspiracy to defraud and acquisition of criminal property charges. Prosecutors also say Reid and Pinnock used their public positions to direct the operation, including regular CMU payments to people said not to know they were being paid.

In another Kingston court matter, 31-year-old British visitor Shawn Tyrell was fined $50,000 or 30 days in prison after pleading guilty to trying to bribe a Jamaican police sergeant on June 24, 2026. His attorney said Tyrell believed traffic tickets can sometimes be paid immediately in cash in Britain and that he only asked whether payment could be made on the spot, but the Crown said the $4,000 was offered so the ticket would not be issued. Senior Parish Court Judge Sasha Borrell also required an apology to the officers in court and said, "There is no legitimate circumstances where money changes hands with an officer during the course of his duty."