Alleged Pathways killer to be tried by jury instead of judge alone

Andre Ruddock, the man accused of slashing a woman's throat during a church ritual in St James three years ago, is to have his matter tried by a jury.

However, a trial date has not yet been fixed.

The accused, through his lawyers, was successful in having his judge-alone trial, which was initially set for trial last October, changed to jury trial following no objection from the prosecution.

Ruddock, in the meantime was today, remanded after his case was set for a plea and case management hearing on February 13.

The defendant is charged with the murder of Taneka Gardner, 39, on October 17, 2021, during an alleged sacrificial ritual at Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries in St James.

Another man, Michael Brown, was also found dead on the church premises.

Ruddock reportedly confessed to Gardner's murder.

Both were members of the church, led by the late Dr Kevin Smith, who died a week after the incident in a motor vehicle crash while being transported to Kingston to face charges.

Attorneys-at-law Anthony Williams and Venice Brown is also representing Ruddock.

-Tanesha Mundle

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.