Cabbies urged to be careful after colleague’s murder

Taxi operators are being urged to exercise greater caution when travelling and conducting business, especially at night, following a chilling development in the murder investigation of University of Technology, Jamaica, student, Michael Patterson.

Head of the St Catherine North Police, Senior Superintendent Hopton Nicholson, issued a strong warning in the wake of murder and firearm charges being laid against two individuals accused of killing the inDrive operator.

"We just want to tell persons generally, tell others of your whereabouts and just be very careful. Even regular taxi operators, you know, just be very careful and cautious when taking on certain trips in certain areas, especially at night," Nicholson said.

Barbara Gardner, a 31-year-old entrepreneur, and Tevin Austin, 31, mason, both of Manchester, were charged with murder, robbery with aggravation, possession of a prohibited weapon, unauthorised possession of ammunition, using a firearm to commit a felony, unauthorised access to computer data, and conspiracy to murder. They were previously charged with larceny of a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property.

Patterson, 40, had been pursuing a Bachelor of Electrical and Computer Engineering while working as a security guard and an inDrive taxi operator to support himself. According to police reports, Patterson was last seen alive on February 20, after he was requested to transport passengers to the Hartlands area in Spanish Town. He was last seen alive sometime before 10 p.m. that night, and was reported missing. On February 23, his body was found in an early state of decomposition. Later that same day, lawmen intercepted his motor car in the Manchester Police Division, leading to the arrest of the two individuals now before the court. A post-mortem examination has since confirmed that Patterson died as a result of gunshot wounds.

Nicholson said the investigation spanned at least three parishes.

"We use technological aids and we use all that we needed to get the best evidence and at this time we are able to prefer charges and they will have their day in court."