Suspect in double murder held by Trelawny cops

The man who the Trelawny police believe was responsible for the recent double murder in which a taxi operator and his common-law wife were killed in Kinloss district in Trelawny is now in custody.

"The suspect, who we believe is responsible for the deaths of 52-year-old Robert Gardner, and his common-law wife, 50-year-old Marcia Thomas, is now in our custody," a senior officer from the Trelawny Police Division told THE WESTERN STAR yesterday. "He was held during a police dragnet, which was staged in the community during the course of the weekend."

According to reports, about 10 p.m. on March 28, Gardner and his common-law wife were inside their home when armed men kicked open the door, and shot and killed them.

Reprisal killing

During a recent interview with THE WESTERN STAR, Superintendent Winston Milton, the commanding officer for Trelawny, said that the police would not leave any stones unturned in its bid to apprehend the suspect, who reportedly went into hiding after the incident.

Milton said that the murders were an act of reprisal for the death of Owen 'Beenie Man' Green, who was also killed in Kinloss earlier that day.

He also said that Green was under the police's radar for his involvements in several crimes, and, at the time of his death, he was out on bail for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

The arrest of the suspect, whose identity has not been revealed, is expected to bring calm to Kinloss.