Man accused of murdering 5-year-old boy remanded

CHRISTOPHER THOMAS

Obrian 'Burch' Hunter, who was implicated in the deaths of a 26-year-old man and a five-year-old boy, who were shot and killed in John's Hall, St James, was remanded in custody when he appeared in the St James Circuit Court yesterday.

Hunter is accused of killing of little Tavoy Cummings of Grange Hill, Westmoreland, and Semiu 'Isis' Shaw, of John's Hall, as well as one count of wounding with intent arising from the same incident.

During Hunter's brief court appearance before presiding High Court Justice Bertram Morrison, it was disclosed that the forensic certificate, which was outstanding from the case file when the matter was last mentioned on January 25, has been assigned for completion and that time has been requested for that to be done.

The court was also told that an outstanding Communication Forensic and Cybercrime Division report, which is related to another case in which Hunter was charged with possession of identity information, is still outstanding. That report had also been outstanding on January 25. Additionally, the prosecution informed the court that the investigating officer, who had provided both updates, was absent from court as he was involved in an accident. Both cases against Hunter were set for September 25.

The allegations against Hunter are that on November 20, 2022, at about 2 p.m., four persons were boarding a motor vehicle while departing from a funeral in John's Hall when they were attacked by armed men, who opened gunfire on them. When the shooting subsided, little Tavoy, Shaw, and Tavoy's father were seen suffering from gunshot wounds. They were transported to hospital, where Tavoy and Shaw were both pronounced dead. The child's father was treated and later released.

Subsequent police investigations led to the arrest and charge of Hunter.