The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A MAN on trial for a daylight double murder in Grand Bahama admitted to police that he fired shots at two people, the final prosecution witness told the Supreme Court yesterday.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Remardo Russell said Shamaz Brown, a juvenile at the time, admitted he was in the area with his co-accused, Trevor Reckley, and Dillon Williams.

Brown said Reckley was driving. Mr Russell also testified that Williams told police he saw Brown shoot Denny Rolle.

Reckley denied any involvement in the shootings when he was questioned, the court heard.

Reckley and Brown are accused of murdering Kim Smith and Mr Rolle. The Crown alleges that on May 11, 2020, the two men pulled up in a dark-coloured Honda Accord and shot and killed Smith and Rolle at about 3.05pm at No 144 Limewood Lane, Freeport.

Justice Andrew Forbes is presiding over the trial before an eight-member jury. Ryszard Humes represents Reckley, and Krystal Kelly-Newman represents Brown. Both accused are on bail.

Mr Russell, who is now stationed in Abaco, was a detective sergeant with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Grand Bahama at the time of the killings.

He said that on May 11, 2020, Detective Weir told him about a shooting on Limewood Lane. When he arrived, he met Detective Corporal 329 Curtis, who gave him certain information.

Mr Russell said he saw a dark-skinned male, later identified as Rolle, lying in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound to the head outside No 144 Limewood Lane while EMS personnel attended to him.

He also saw a blue Ford Focus, registration SG0132, with a woman who had gunshot wounds in the driver's seat.

"She was lifeless," Mr Russell said.

The car had multiple bullet holes and blood stains on the rear passenger door, the court heard. Mr Russell said he saw four spent 9mm casings on the ground, and the scene was processed and photographed.

The prosecution entered photographs into evidence, including images of the scene, the bullet-marked Ford Focus and the dead woman inside the car. Mr Russell also identified a photograph of the dark-coloured Honda Accord with suspected blood stains.

Rolle was taken by ambulance to Rand Memorial Hospital, while morticians removed the woman from Restview. Doctors pronounced both dead.

On May 12, at CID, Mr Russell was told the woman was Kim Smith. That day he also spoke with Mr Williams, who was in custody in connection with the case.

According to Mr Russell, Mr Williams admitted he had been in the area in a dark-coloured Honda Accord with Reckley and Brown. He told police he saw Brown shoot Rolle, who was standing near the blue Ford Focus.

Police then went to an unpaved road off Queen's Highway in Hunters. Mr Russell said he found a dark-coloured Honda Accord there, with suspected blood stains on the left rear door on the driver's side. The car was processed and towed to the police compound for safekeeping.

At 8.35pm that day, Mr Russell said, he spoke with Brown in the presence of Brown's father, Charles Brown, and Detective Delancy. He told Brown he was suspected in the deaths of Smith and Rolle and cautioned him.

Asked whether he offered Brown any inducement or tricked him into confessing, Mr Russell said: "He gave confession on his free will."

Mr Russell said Brown admitted being in the area with Reckley and Mr Williams, and admitted firing shots at two people.

Mr Russell said he began a record of interview with Brown, but Brown's father stopped the interview and said he wanted a lawyer. Brown's father was present because Brown was a juvenile at the time.

On May 13, Detective Griffin told Mr Russell that Rolle had been officially identified by his mother.

That day Mr Russell interviewed Reckley in the presence of Corporal Delancy. According to Mr Russell, Reckley said he was in Hawksbill with his cousin on May 11 from 10am until after 5pm.

Reckley denied involvement in the deaths of Smith and Rolle. He also denied being a member of the Nike Boys gang, though he said he knew about the group.

Mr Russell said Reckley acknowledged knowing Jefferey Musgrove and Felicia Longley, whose residence is in Hunters, but denied going to their homes on May 11. He denied knowing Rolle or having any previous problems with him, and said he did not know Smith.

Asked whether he and Brown were involved in the shooting, or whether he had ever driven a Honda Accord, Reckley replied: "No sir."

That interview ended at about 1.38pm.

Mr Russell interviewed Brown again at CID at 3.18pm on May 13, with his father present. Brown gave no comment to questions about the shootings, and the interview ended at 3.54pm.

Brown was then taken to hospital for a blood sample and a physical examination, which Mr Russell said was normal. Mr Russell collected the completed hospital form.

On May 14, an autopsy by Dr Mandy Pedican found that Rolle died from a gunshot wound to the head. Mr Russell said he charged Reckley and Brown each with two counts of murder on May 16.

Dr Pedican carried out Smith's autopsy on May 19 and found that she also died from gunshot injuries to the head.

Mr Russell identified Reckley and Brown in court as the men he interviewed.

The trial continues on Tuesday, when the defence is expected to open its case.