Update | Westmoreland taxi operator charged for chopping death of jerk vendor

The police in Westmoreland have charged the taxi operator who fatally chopped popular jerk vendor Rodway Powell, otherwise called ‘Jerky,’ who was a passenger in his cab, during a dispute.

Shadwayne Ellis, 36, of Geneva district, Grange Hill, Westmoreland, was charged with murder on Saturday.

His court date is being finalised.

Reports from the police are that about 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26, Ellis and Powell got into an argument that became physical.

It is reported that the dispute was over fare.

It is alleged that Powell held on to the keys to Ellis’ taxi.

In an attempt to retrieve the keys, Ellis pulled a machete from the back of the vehicle, which he used to inflict multiple chop wounds to Powell’s body, before escaping the area on foot.

The police were summoned, and on their arrival, Powell was seen lying on the ground in blood with chop wounds to his upper body.

He was assisted to hospital, where he succumbed while undergoing treatment.

Ellis was taken into custody and subsequently charged on Saturday, March 1, following a question-and-answer session in the presence of his attorney.

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