Man says ganja made him kill his grandfather

A22-year-old man, who has been charged with the murder of his own grandfather, reportedly confessed to residents and the police that he was influenced by ganja.

The accused, who has been identified as Victor Newman, otherwise called Whitmore, unemployed of Friendship district, Wakefield, and Quick Step, both in Trelawny, has been charged with the murder of 84-year-old Menocal Stephenson, otherwise called Shoey, shoemaker also of Quick Step district.

The police said that on the morning of September 11, Newman used a knife to inflict several stab wounds to Stephenson. He was later accosted by residents, who handed him over to lawmen.

On Monday, September 13, a question-and-answer session was conducted in the presence of two justices of the peace. Newman was charged with murder on Tuesday, September 14.

Residents said that on the day of the murder, Newman told several persons that the high he felt in his brain after smoking ganja influenced his decision to stab his grandfather.

“At first mi neva did believe the boy seh him really stab up ‘Shoey’, but when wi look an see seh him full a blood, a that time wi run go inna the house an see him lie dung full a stab,” one resident who gave his name as Richie told THE WEEKEND STAR.

He said a few of the residents then grabbed Newman, beat him, and then called the police.

“All this time the boy jus a laugh like nutten nah happen, an when wi ask him why him stab up ‘

Shoey’, all him a seh is that a di ganja wha him did a smoke bus inna him brain, an possess him.”

“When di police dem cum, dem rush him ‘Shoey’ go a Black River Hospital, an him over deh fi a week, but wi know seh him neva did a go mek it, because the boy stab him up bad, bad,” he said. The residents described Stephenson to be a very kind and loving individual, who was a farmer and the community shoemaker for most of his life.

They also said that Newman was living with relatives in Wakefield, and moved to Quick Step last Christmas.

One police investigator told THE WEEKEND STAR that the accused is scheduled to appear in the Trelawny Parish Court next week.

“On Monday he was questioned at the Falmouth Police Station where he gave a caution statement, and we then charged him in the presence of two justices of the peace,” the officer stated.

“While being questioned, he also gave us the same answer that after smoking ganja, it affected his brain and led him to committing the act,” the officer further stated.

Eleven murders have been committed in Trelawny since the start of the year, with six of them cleared up.