Jury trial set for alleged Pathway killer

The man accused of fatally slashing the throat of Taneka Gardner during a church ritual in St James three years ago, is to have his matter tried by a jury.

However, a trial date has not yet been fixed.

The accused, through his lawyers, was successful in having his judge-alone trial, which was initially set for trial last October, changed to jury trial following no objection from the prosecution.

Ruddock, in the meantime was today, remanded after his case was set for a plea and case management hearing on February 13.

The defendant is charged with the murder of Gardner, 39, on October 17, 2021, during an alleged sacrificial ritual at Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries in St James.

Another man, Michael Brown, was also found dead on the church premises.

Ruddock reportedly confessed to Gardner's murder.

Both were members of the church, led by the late Dr Kevin Smith, who died a week after the incident in a motor vehicle crash while being transported to Kingston to face charges.

Attorneys Anthony Williams and Venice Brown is also representing Ruddock.

-Tanesha Mundle

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