Suspect in cab driver's murder remanded

WESTERN BUREAU:Hewitt Johnson, the main suspect in the January 9 murder of St James taxi operator Jeffery Nam, was remanded in custody when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Johnson, a 31-year-old chef of Pondside district in Hanover, was ordered remanded to allow his lawyer, Anthony Williams, an opportunity to explain why Johnson had reportedly fled the jurisdiction following Nam's death. Williams was not at court when the matter was mentioned.

It is alleged that on January 9, Johnson was one of three passengers in Nam's Toyota Corolla taxi en route from Hopewell, Hanover, to Montego Bay, St James. Along the way, it is alleged that Johnson pulled a firearm and shot Nam in the side of the head. Nam later succumbed to his injuries at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay.

On Monday, Resident Magistrate Sandria Wong-Small expressed concern to Johnson's acting defence counsel, Stacy-Ann Young, that prior to being arrested, neither Johnson's relative nor the police had been able to make telephone contact with him.

IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTACT

"It became impossible for anybody to contact him (Johnson) by the number that he gave, and it was clear that a number of stories were swirling about his involvement in the matter," said Wong-Small. "Are you saying that he was totally unaware that the police had an interest in him?"

"I would ask for a date when his counsel can be here to explain. He had said April 2, 3, or 4," answered Young.

"Mr Johnson, the matter will be mentioned before the court again on April 3. You are remanded until then," Wong-Small advised Johnson.