DEAD MAN CHARGED WITH SHOOTING

Head of the Kingston Central Police Division, Superintendent Berisford Williams, has defended the decision to charge a dead man, following an incident at the intersection of Beckford Street and Luke Lane in Kingston on January 7.

The man, 23-year-old Marcus Madden, otherwise called ‘Jukist’, of Matthews Lane, Kingston, was posthumously slapped with larceny and gunrelated charges after he was fatally shot during an alleged confrontation with the police.

Williams, when contacted by THE STAR, said the charges are a necessary part of the administrative process. He explained that if a crime was committed prior to a person’s death, the suspect has to be charged, for the purpose of record-keeping.

“It is not a matter of charging the deceased, the crime against him has to be cleared,” Williams said. “The crime was committed, so the matter has to be resolved. It is not a case where he (the dead man) is charged to be taken to court. It is for administrative reasons.”

Police said that about 5:10 a.m. on the day of the incident, Madden and another man, Jhadane McCarthy, 18, of Beeston Street, Kingston 14, broke into a wholesale in downtown Kingston and proceeded to rob the business place. The men reportedly stole clothing, footwear and groceries with an estimated value of over $2.5 million.

A police team made efforts to apprehend the men when they were allegedly met with gunfire. The fire was returned and after the shooting subsided, both men were seen with gunshot wounds.

One mini sub-machine gun with four 9mm cartridges was removed from the scene. They were taken to hospital where Madden was pronounced dead. McCarthy was treated and released into police custody.

McCarthy and the dead man have since been charged with shopbreaking and larceny, shooting with intent, unauthorised possession of ammunition, possession of a prohibited weapon and using a firearm to commit a felony.

McCarthy’s court date has not yet been determined.