Man charged with murder of contractor Humphrey Brown granted bail

Nathan Williams, one of the men charged in connection with the murder of St Catherine contractor Humphrey Brown, who was reported missing and later found buried in a shallow grave, was granted $1 million bail on Friday in the St Catherine Parish Court.

His co-accused Leonard Swaby remains in custody.

The men are charged with murder, conspiracy to murder, unlawful burial of a corpse, possession of a prohibited weapon, robbery with aggravation, conspiracy to robbery with aggravation, 10 counts of simple larceny, conspiracy to commit simple larceny, and engaging in a transaction involving criminal property.

Investigators told the court that Williams has had previous convictions and is an active member of a gang, however, attorney-at-law Rodain Richardson was still able to make a successful application for bail on Williams' behalf.

Bail was granted on condition that Williams does not contact any witnesses in the case and that he be fingerprinted and surrender his travel documents.

It is alleged that on the night of July 11, 2025, Brown was at his home in Willowdene, Spanish Town, St Catherine, when he received a telephone call.

He reportedly left home in his Mercedes-Benz motor car, headed for Church Pen in Old Harbour.

He was not seen or heard from again.

His vehicle was discovered 13 days later by police personnel in Alexandria, St Ann.

During the investigation, police discovered that Brown’s bank card had been used at an automated teller machine (ATM).

CCTV footage reportedly revealed two men—later identified as Swaby and Williams—allegedly conducting transactions using Brown’s card.

Further investigations led to their arrest during an operation in Linstead, St Catherine.

According to the police, during an interview, the men confessed to their involvement in the crime and led officers to the location where Brown’s body was buried.

Two days later, Brown’s body was found in a shallow grave in Thetford, Old Harbour, St Catherine.

- Rasbert Turner

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