St Catherine van shooting: ‘Tutu’ charged after farmer killed, wife wounded

A 33-year-old man from St Ann, who police say is also known as “Tutu”, is facing several criminal charges after a shooting in St Catherine left a farmer dead and the farmer’s wife nursing injuries.

The accused has been named as Jamie Stephenson, of Mansfield Heights in Ocho Rios, St Ann. He has been charged with murder, wounding with intent, possession of a prohibited weapon, unauthorised possession of ammunition, and using a firearm to commit a felony.

The man killed in the incident has been identified as Clement Mills, a 62-year-old farmer.

According to reports, Mills and his wife were in a 2005 Toyota Liteace van about 11:00 a.m. on May 15. The vehicle was carrying water that had been collected in Lluidasvale.

Police said the couple was travelling on a road towards Point Hill when a man allegedly came out from among bushes, took a gun from his waistband, and fired on the van.

Mills and his wife were hit by bullets, and the vehicle later ran off into a crash on the roadway.

Police assisted both victims to Linstead Hospital, where Mills was declared dead. His wife was admitted for medical care.

Detectives attached to the Spanish Town Criminal Investigation Branch opened an investigation, which police say resulted in Stephenson being taken into custody roughly four hours after the attack. Investigators also reported that an illegal gun was allegedly found in his possession at that time.

Stephenson was reportedly identified during an identification parade on May 25. He was later charged after a question-and-answer interview was carried out with his attorney present.

He is waiting for a court date.